Oakley Pub and Grill, a sure fire place to get good pub food and variants on pub food. Ask for half and half sides! First I would be amiss if I didn't mention their uniquely delicious cole slaw. It uses a vinegar base as the starting point for a sauce that resembles more of an Asian sesame ginger dressing than a cole slaw one. Be prepared and you won't be disappointed. Their buffalo dip is slightly addictive and is enough to fill you up if you try to eat it alone. Share it with some friends and you'll be glad you did! One tip from the title, half and half sides. Don't want a large cereal bowl full of cole slaw with your wrap, but can't down a pound of fries either? Ask for half cole slaw and half fries and get a reasonable amount of both. It's also an easy way to try their cole slaw without having to fully commit! Overall their food is up to par and they have that special something that makes them unique.
(4)
Suz M.
The menu is nothing spectacular, but the food is decent as are prices. The best thing about it is that they have a patio where I can dine with my dog (always a winner in my book) and a parking lot (if you're lucky enough to find a space). A friend and I went here specifically for the purpose of dining with our dogs. I liked that I could get a veggie burger and we were both pleased with the relaxing, folksy music from the band that was playing. It was a nice Sunday afternoon. I would definitely return here the next time I want to dine out with my dog. There are two patio areas, but you want the one that is adjacent to the parking lot (not the one in the front on the sidewalk). This was my second visit here and I much prefer the roomier outside patio to the cramped inside dining. There is an area both upstairs and downstairs inside, but they both are cramped and almost impossible to move if there is a crowd. Both times the food was decent, but service was a little lackadaisical. While it wouldn't be my first place to choose, it is a solid choice and the option to have my dog with me will always put it over the top.
(3)
John B.
There have been a few times in my life that I've been blown away by how good the food, and this was one of them. I had heard that their burgers were good, but I've been to places claiming to have great burgers and they have been just average. I ordered the Soul Burger and at that point was the best burger I've ever had. I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to find some of the best burgers in Cincinnati
(5)
Courtney P.
My Cincy Burger Week adventures brought my friends and I to Oakley Pub and Grill for the first time and I don't think this will be our last! The place was very busy and super packed when I arrived. Seating was first come first serve so I was lucky enough to grab a table for 5 of us inside and near the bar. I would have prefer eating outside but apparently everyone else had the bright idea first. The staff was very friendly and made sure we had drinks and were happy to answer any questions despite them being very busy. We all ordered the Western Burger which was their $5 Burger Week offering and we were happy to see that it came with fries. Another friend also ordered chicken wings. The wings came out quickly and had this unique, and delicious dry rub which we ended up scraping off her place and taking home with us in a little container. Unfortunately, our burgers did not come out as quickly as the wings but I expected that giving how busy they were. When they finally did arrive they were HOT, not warm, not medium, but hot and juicy like a burger should be. The bacon was cooked perfectly and the meat well seasoned. My only gripe: the fries weren't very good. The were hard and lukewarm which I found to be weird since they had to be cranking out lots of fries for the burgers. I can't wait to come back and try some of their other offerings like their daily special and delicous appetizers. This place was great!
(5)
Andy V.
The customer service here was awesome. We decided to go out for a casual dinner and take our dog to get him out of his "comfort zone" and the staff were awesome. When we got there the first thing the waitress did was bring us a bowl of water for the dog. The entire patio staff were super friendly not only to use but to our dog as well. The food was good but the service was awesome. If you have a dog and want to take him to dinner with you this place will always be our first choice.
(5)
Esther K.
Food is okay, not the best burger in Cincinnati. But the outdoor seating is nice and they have a good beer list!
(3)
Sarah B.
I'm reviewing OPG as an eating establishment and not so much the bar aspect. The location is perfect, nestled in the corner of Madison and Isabella. Parking is a bit of a mess but there seems to be a lot of it. Definitely the back patio is the place to be, eating or drinking. However, expect to get smoke blown in your face while you are eating. We had the rueben with fries, the mushroom veggie burger and 5 garlic wings, hot. The veggie pattie was most likely a morning star frozen pattie so not worth the money but the rest of the food was good. The fries are not spiced at all so Id get a different side if you want some flavor. Overall, I would go back to try a real burger and stick to drinking adult beverages.
(3)
Adam B.
Went here for Cincinnati burger week and had the Memphis burger which was a very good burger. Had the coleslaw which is different than most but was enjoyable. They run great daily deals. Service was super quick. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Brian K.
The Oakley Pub & Grill is well known for their delicious burgers, and we're sure they are the bomb but we prefer our meat soaked in vodka. Thankfully, they also have an ass-kicking bloody mary! Made spicy, just the way we like them, and served with a pickle, and olive, cheese and SLIM JIM garnish! We coulda handled the entire Slim Jim, but I guess we needed to save room for that burger. They also serve their bloody with a beer chaser, as the good lord intended it. We chose Guiness, because if you must drink something that isn't a bloody mary, it might as well be the greatest beer ever. We freaking love the midwest! For more bloodies, check out bloodyamerica.com
(4)
Ngocuyen N.
I had a great time at at the OPG. The two beers I had before my food came might've helped, but honestly the place was nice. The place felt so chill I really could've just hung out there and drank the evening away. You could sit inside or there's a great patio outside too. It wasn't anything fancy but kind of cute. It was definitely relaxing and comfortable. It's the kind of bar where you could've taken your coworker, your date, your kid or your mother. There was a guy there having a quiet dinner with his little boy. The burgers people ordered looked amazing! So juicy and of a good size. There's a great selection of beer on tap and not. The food surpasses your average bar food too. I ordered the crab-stuffed portobello, which was great- seasoned, cooked right, a good portion for the price I paid. There are other yummy looking fried options too. I think there's happy hour/day for wine too (half price or $10/bottle?) on certain days. Services at the bar and table were both good.
(4)
Rachel F.
Good food been a couple times now! I've had a burger and the buffalo chicken wrap and both hit the spot! Great place to go grab a beer and enjoy good food while watching the game. Dogs seem to be allowed outside on the patio which we love! We will definitely be back for more!!
(5)
Kyle W.
Went to checkout OPG as the locals call it for their trivia night and their burgers, which I had heard were very good. I went with the black and bleu burger as any sane person should. It did not disappoint! It definitely had a unique taste but was very tasty. Not a fan of the bun though. Somewhat hard and too much bun compared to the burger. Our group also gave the buffalo chicken dip a whirl - it was very good and a great portion amount for the price! Trivia was also fun, although it does drag on for quite sometime. All in all, a solid, cool spot!
(4)
Charles S.
I've been here twice and enjoyed my burgers both times. The first time I went with fries over slaw expecting the slaw to be the normal with a lot of sauce but their slaw has dried ramen in it and isn't runny. The slaw is more like a salad and I recommend it. The restaurant can get very busy at peak times but is pretty empty if you come at about 1:30. They have a pretty good beer selection.
(4)
Christine L.
It is Sunday Funday day. I came down with a friend with the intention of taking her to Oakley Pub. All the chairs were up on the tables, and literally locked the door in our faces forty minutes before closing time. I would love to review them, given the opportunity, but I wasn't given the opportunity to do so, and I don't think I will be back.
(1)
Bruce Y.
I'm there almost every Wednesday for Burgermania - a good burger with up to 5 toppings, and a big bowl of their "unique slaw" for $7.95.
(4)
Marie M.
Ambiance good- for a dive that's a wannabe dive in trendy area Crab cakes- horrid - take 9 lives cat food w/ celery and fry it - that's what you get gawd awful prison food- Do not tell me to not order seafood in a bar. There are millions of dives with excellent seafood out there - I thought this was /maybe kinda one - I was wrong. Gawd awfulness. Wings good for fried etc. I'm going to puke 9 lives crab cakes.
(3)
Ralph H.
It's small, noisy, and the staff kind of hangs around cracking their chewing gum. The beer on tap is super lame. Bud, Bud light, etc. The only non wimpy beer on the tap list was Guinness. The food was typical bar food. Big screens had the reds game on. Whoop de doo. Habits across the street has a much better menu, and they've been around longer and do it much better. Better beer there too. This place isn't that hip.
(2)
Cindy G.
UPDATE: So the service is still rock star solid. Just wanted to pop in and remind everyone that the outdoor patio is fully finished and is spectacular. I had lunch out there today and it was pure bliss! This is a great places to catch games with groups because they always have specials and they have outdoor TV's on the back patio. I was surprised by how clean and nice it is actually for being a sports bar. Love it here. Really great food, relaxing atmosphere. Everything a neighborhood pub should be.
(4)
Carrie H.
Love this place. We dine in rarely... Usually get carry out, so I can't comment on the service (though when we do dine there we've always had great service.) favorites are the chicken wings, buffalo chicken pizza and fish tacos. I know they're known for their burgers but I don't eat ground beef often so... Food is consistently good. Decent beer selection. Half price bottle wine night is very nice. Good stuff.
(5)
Adam B.
A very small place that runs a tight ships. Seems to be family ran based on the pictures hanging on the wall in this old building. For how small the kitchen was, It was impressive how much food they served out quickly . check out how small this kitchen is! The food is really good for bar fare and has daily specials. Tasty Philly cheese steak and baja fish tacos. Could use better fries. I really liked the old copper bar counter top they had. Has flat screens for sports, outdoor patio with fireplace, and sidewalk seating. In sum, a different place to drink some duffs and snack on some wings. Also, the Guinness was properly served on the correct tap with NO2=mmmm dark creamy Guinness with a head of foam
(4)
Ryan M.
The burgers are some of the best in the city of Cincinnati. The drinks are affordable the dress is casual one of the best local spots in Oakley.
(5)
Devon C.
I went to the Oakley Pub for dinner. There was a bit of a wait, but we were seated decently fast, around 10-15 minutes. The service was alright. They had a good selection of beer. I had the fish tacos after reading several reviews on Yelp and they were alright, not amazing but still tasty. I think overall the menu is large and there are a lot of options but there was nothing that anybody in our dinner party ordered that was standout. I think the selling point about this place is its outdoor patio which in the spring/summer/fall is a fantastic area to hang out and dine.
(3)
William K.
Great bartenders but I won't eat here again for awhile. Had three burgers (what they're known for) in a row that were awful. Not so/so, not just okay but actually awful. I will try the food again at some point but I don't trust that kitchen. I recommend posting up at the downstairs bar or coming in for a great trivia night. Fantastic place for drinking a few beers with friends.
(2)
Peter B.
The service was excellent. I wish I remembered the name of the guy who was our server. He did a great job. Me and 8 or 9 others enjoyed lunch on the patio. The guy took our food/drink orders quickly, and delivered everything accurately in a reasonable amount of time. Everyone's food looked great. I had the Black and Blue Burger with their "unique slaw" instead of fries. The Black/burger was great. The Blue, not so much. I love blue cheese and their version of it consisted of a little blue cheese mixed with a lot of creamy sauce. It failed to supply the potent combo of tastes that I love and strong breath afterward that my wife hates. So I suppose she likes the creamy blue cheese just for that reason. I wish it was actual chunks of blue cheese though. There was nothing real unique about the slaw. I'd get fries next time. The slaw tasted exactly like slaw we'd gotten from Trader Joe's. Good, but nothing special. The food's okay, but the service is great. It'll keep me coming back.
(4)
Lauren J.
I love this bar. It has perfect pub food and the burgers are to die for. I even opt for their famous cole slaw instead of fries. They can accommodate large groups for happy hours and their outside seating makes it perfect for cool nights or patio dining. They even welcome dogs and provided a water bowl with a slice of lime. Any place that welcomes my pup has a place in my heart.
(4)
Marzina R.
Great wings and house made bleu cheese. Monday's are 50¢ wings. Service is nice... Not the best but very nice.
(4)
Sean S.
By far the most incompetent and disrespectful individuals invoked in the bar business.
(1)
Santeri P.
This is our go-to local place for burgers. It's right down the street from us and you can eat in or carry out. Although we usually get our food carry-out, we sometimes stop in for a beer and burger as well. They have a nice new patio for sitting outside, but I will admit that my favorite place to sit is on the other side where they have seating on the sidewalk. Something about sitting on the sidewalk and drinking beer and eating appeals to me and I love places that offer this option. While the burgers aren't the best in town they are good. I love the option of either fries or slaw as a side. My wife always gets the fries and I always get the slaw. The slaw isn't your ordinary slaw with mayonnaise. It is actually a slaw that I have eaten many times at family functions because my mom makes it. It is made with cabbage, crunchy ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, almonds, and a vinaigrette dressing. It is nice fresh alternative to fries that I love when I am eating a burger. But I will say that they also have nice fat fries that are better than your average fries. We both like the Banana Jack Burger as our favorite because we love banana peppers. I have also eaten the Soul Burger on multiple occasions and it is also real good. The other great sandwich on the menu is the Oakley Fish Fillet sandwich. You can get the fish filet prepared three different ways but we always get blackened. It comes out with a piece of fish so big that it doesn't even fit on the big pieces of bread. I always cut the fillet in half and put half on the sandwich. Then if I'm still hungry I can eat the rest of the fish or take it home for later. I will say that this fish sandwich is probably my favorite fish sandwich in Cincinnati right now. They also have other typical bar foods but I don't ever order anything else. I come here just for the burgers and fish sandwiches (and slaw). It's in an old bank building which gives it some character and the location is in a pretty good spot, basically in Oakley Square.
(3)
Karen D.
The Oakley Pub patio is the place to be on a beautiful day! This summer the pub had a monthly Sunday afternoon music series where you were able to hear a variety of local performers. Quick service, I enjoyed a nice gold Guinness served in a frosty mug, which was delicious on a warm summer day!
(4)
Kenneth T.
A good spot to host a gathering. Good prices, better food than most. Smoke free for us Kentuckians is always worth the drive across the river.
(5)
S W.
Really bad service, really bad food. Reluctant to give it any stars. We asked for silverware to eat our food with and never got it, had to basically set the table ourselves. Some people at our table received their food, others had to wait. Never asked us for refill of drinks, went thirsty. When I talked to manager, she said a large group came in, um, I don't care, we are here too....also music was so loud, we asked them to turn it down and they said they couldn't, and that we just had to deal with it? Really? We were really nice to them, but they catered towards larger group. Would not go back, really, really awful.
(1)
Scott M.
What a great place for trivia on Tuesday nights! Typically between 16-20 teams show up each week, which makes for a competitive trivia night and a good atmosphere, except for that one guy that constantly looks over our shoulders and asks what answer we put down on every third question. The same guy gloats when he wins and cries when he loses. Other than him, this place is fun. Gotta get there early for trivia if you want a seat. The basement is a good place to grab a seat at a table or a bar. If you want to watch the game, there's a television wherever you need it and I was surprised to find out that they can get just about any station you need. We were able to get sun coast sports last night to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning, that's pretty obscure. The bartenders are friendly and take care of you. They are very nice and go above and beyond to get what you need. Outside of Tuesday nights I don't come here much. The food is fine, but it's definitely bar food, which you can get at a number of places within walking distance. This is also not the biggest bar in the world, so sometimes you have to take advantage of the basement because there are no other options. If you're the only person in the basement it can be a bit awkward. The best thing about this place has to be THE WHEEL. SPIN THE WHEEL for three bucks and get a shot of roulette! A random shot according to the wheel! Woohoo! It's just one of those fun things they don't have at every bar...so I spin the wheel every time!
(4)
Lia V.
I can't really speak much for this place since I didn't drink or eat when I went (just went to hang out with friends for Tuesday Trivia). However, it's a good location and a great atmosphere. Definitely small for how many people show up for trivia, but I guess that makes it fun. There were 19 teams this week. It's definitely your standard pub atmosphere, but maybe a little cleaner feeling. Not AS dark and dirty as your regular pub. Drinks are crazy cheap (always some special going on) and my friends liked their food. Get there early if you want a seat for trivia. It's a fun time. I'll go again :-)
(3)
Sam K.
This is one neat little pub. The good options aren't that plentiful but they're pretty good. Me and three friends popped in for dinner. Nachos were massive and loaded with toppings. I enjoyed the special, blackened fish tacos, and my friends enjoyed the burger which was pretty filling and paired with steak fries. The fourth in our party ordered the buffalo chicken wrap which looked good but was, according to her, "a little too saucy." The back porch featured a live band and a cozy atmosphere despite the sub-freezing temperatures outside. Prices are reasonable. The only detractors is that we were seated by the door which let in a blast of cold air each time it opened. Seating in general is rather limited and you could end up waiting awhile if it's a busy evening. The other bit was kind of a pet peeve: they charged me fifty cents when I asked for hot sauce (which I only discovered upon reviewing my bill). Charging for hot sauce is pretty tacky and just kind of lame. But whatever, it's a cool joint. It's go back if I were just looking for a chill afternoon.
(4)
Ben N.
Everything I said about Oakley Pub a couple of years ago pretty much still stands. With one big caveat: Oakley Pub's kitchen seems to have forgotten how to cook a hamburger. The last several I've had here, over about an 18-month span, have been pretty badly overcooked and flavorless, and just kind of slapped together. Please note, Oakley Pub: When a customer asks for a burger medium rare in a restaurant that purportedly grills burgers "to your liking," as the menu here says, he or she is usually not talking just to hear the sound of his or her own voice. And please: grill or griddle the bun. Oakley Pub was ranked in the top ten burgers in that silly Top 40 Burgers list in Cincinnati Magazine a couple of years back, but since that time, it appears that the kitchen has decided to rest on these laurels and to send out a parade of well-done hockey pucks in lieu of their formerly delicious burgers. In short, this burger is officially overrated right now. Nonetheless, because everything else on the menu and about Oakley Pub seems to be holding up pretty well--e.g. the grouper sandwich is still good, the reuben is among the best in town, that Asian-style slaw is still ace, and this is still a very agreeable place to have some food and a couple of beers. Another plus: The service seems to have tightened up from what I described in my original review. I still endorse Oakley Pub. Just not their burgers. And if the original review was a like a 4.25, rounded down,consider this update a 3.75, rounded up.
(4)
Mark W.
First visit. Good place to have a burger and a beer. Could not deal with one of the guys that is delivering food and also pouring drinks is wearing a shirt with the sleeves totally cut out. Hopefully that won't happen at the New location.
(3)
Kent F.
I like this place. The wings were great, slightly crunchy, and not over done. Beer was good and cold and the Saturday special, buffalo sandwich was ready good. The slaw was different... not for me but my wife loved if and she's very picky. When in the neighborhood, I will make it a point to stop back. The service was a+
(4)
Megan K.
Great place to hang out in Oakley. Their food is just okay but they have an amazing bloody mary. I go there whenever I am craving one (which is far too often). Very spicy and comes with a beer chaser.
(4)
Maureen D.
Met a friend for lunch on Wed the 16th. I had read about the slow service but wasn't worried since we wouldn't be in a hurry. I didn't count on the poor service since our server apparently didn't pick up our order for quite some time. 45 minutes after ordering our two items, the food was delivered cold - not the way I like my burger. What is the point of a toasted bun if it's delivered cold? We'll try across the street at Habits next time.
(2)
Don S.
Favorite neighborhood bar/restaurant not fancy. Good servers nice covered outside patio. Priced right
(4)
Sam S.
Since the food and drinks were nothing special at all I am giving them 1 star for the terrible service we had. I tried to go here for trivia with a group from work. We got there more than an hour before trivia started and tried to get a table. We couldn't get the attention of any of the servers to get a table and didn't see any spaces open that were big enough for our group. We ended up going downstairs where there were a few tables open and a few tables where the people there were finishing up their meals. We tried to take one of those tables when they opened up and were told that someone had "called" all these tables for their group. We had now been kind of standing around at the bar for almost an hour and this group wasn't even at the restaurant! We almost left but decided to stick it out. Finally a half hour into trivia they let us take one of the empty tables because the group hadn't shown. Overall just really bad service. Food and drinks took a while and like I said nothing special at all. Will not be back and would definitely not recommend, especially for trivia. There are lots of other local bars that do the same one on the same night so we will be going to one of those from now on.
(1)
Dax V.
I can only speak to the issues of beer and service here. Went in to check this place out as it's located conveniently to me. My only goals were to check out their beer situation and of course the service and atmosphere. I had seen online and through their advertising that they were into things like hot wings and such, and your basic macro beers, and sports. But then it seems most Cincinnati pubs are. It was a Sunday afternoon. I got a seat at the bar without waiting. A woman behind the bar acknowledged me pretty quickly and courteously. So far so good. I told her I was looking at what beers they had on tap. She was fairly helpful with this and remained there ready to take my order (but then it was not busy in there). Next I did what seems to throw so many servers/beertenders: I asked about price. How much does a pint of beer go for here basically? Why is this question so hard to answer, and why does it seem to annoy most servers? I know I look like a loser asking, but really, roll with it people! She had to ask another guy behind the bar. If I recall, the answer was it varies. So I asked about one beer in particular. She had to ask someone. That person had to actually ring up the beer to get the answer (believe me, this is not the first time I've had an employee of a beer establishment have to ring up a beer in order to tell me how much it would be). I had told her that if it was $5 or less I would get one. The answer came back: $6 per pint. I respectfully said that I would just go elsewhere. She looked taken aback a bit, and at least one bar patron turned to look at me. Okay, I knew what I needed to know. My experience at Oakley Pub & Grill wasn't over yet though. As I opened the door and exited I heard a female voice saying "See Ya!" I can only hope the voice wasn't that of the barkeep. I proceeded to walk to a nearby establishment with a better beer selection and markedly better prices. See ya, Oakley Pub & Grill!
(1)
Roth M.
Great little neighborhood corner bar. The patio is now open for outdoor dining and drinking. It's got a cool stone fireplace. Basement is open too. With nightly food and drink specials, this place is fairly busy pretty much 7 nights a week. The Soul Burger was voted #7 Best Burger by Cincinnati Magazine, rightfully so, because it is a damn good sandwich. I would suggest getting the Unique Slaw whenever possible. It isn't like a creamy coleslaw, it is cabbage, but it is sweet and Asian inspired with crispy ramen noodles crushed up in it. I could eat it by the bucket, it is soooo good. The menu consists basically of pub-grub, but it seems to be done to a slightly higher standard. There's wings and pizzas and burgers and quesadillas and fish tacos and Phillys, as well as salads. On top of their daily specials, on Saturdays and Sundays they have the Hangover Specials until 4PM. Breakfast/brunch types of food and I believe Bloody Mary specials. Know your target market, cater to your target market. (edited to add) -If you like/love the Soul Burger, I would suggest getting the Grilled Chicken Club. It is prepared exactly the same way as the burger, only with a juicy chicken boob. Tastes like they use the same spice mix as well.
(4)
Mallory T.
I usually love this place because the bartenders are always very friendly, make drinks quickly and the atmosphere is nice. However last night I wanted a mule, the bar didn't have the exact ingredients that I wanted as far as bourbon but that didn't matter much to me. The bad part was the bartender literally threw one shot in the bottom of this tall glass at least 16 oz and then poured ginger beer on top of it. No lemon/lime juice was added in just straight ginger beer on top. It was the worst mule I've ever had and the paying for the beer plus the cost of the "shot" of bourbon was over $10 for a terrible drink. I think that price is reasonable if the drink tastes good but from now on I'll know not to order a mule there and stick to beer.
(2)
Ben D.
This place has lots of character! It's definitely a "locals" kind of bar, given its quasi-hidden location just off the square. But it has parking which can be tricky in Oakley. The folks are friendly, the beer is cold, and the steak fries slathered with cheese and bacon bits dipped in ranch are amazing!! Great place for happy hour or a bite to eat, or to watch a game. Don't neglect the patio and the nearly completed 3-season room for more well-lit dining/drinking options. There's also a basement, which oddly, can take even regulars a while to realize. Good weekday drink specials too.
(4)
Jessica N.
I was really stuck on going to Bar Louie for dollar burger night on Wednesday nights for awhile. Like, 4 years awhile. Then one night, I realized that I was never only spending a dollar, and I was not even getting a really good burger. I decided to seek out other Wednesday night options and came across Oakley Pub and their Wednesday night Burger Madness. 7 dollars you say? That's outrageous compared to my 1 dollar burger! But wait, I was actually spending 10+ dollars at Bar Louie because I had to pay for individual toppings, order my fries separately and then order 1... or 4 beers. So a few of my friends and I ventured to Oakley Pub and dined on some delicious burgers with interesting toppings and fries included for a worthwhile 7 dollars. Also! Burgers at Oakley Pub are cooked to order; you aren't required to get your burger "well-done" because of food safety hazards. That's a big plus sign for me.
(4)
Justin M.
Thanks to the wonderful community that is Yelp I decided to plop into the small building that is Oakley Pub. Be careful though, you may miss it through all of the construction and for the simple fact that the building itself is not all that inviting. Don't judge a book by its cover though, right? That's the saying, and it proves itself all too much here. Oakley pub is what it titles itself as, a pub. It serves pub food, smells of pub stench and has all the normal sightings a small restaurant bar would contain. As me and my girlfriend ventured around the Oakley/ Hyde park area looking for food I tasked her with searching the Yelp app for a decent burger or wing joint to head to for lunch. Oakley Pub crossed the phone screen to rave reviews and we punched it into the GPS and started to head over. The moment we set eye on the building we were a bit skeptical but as I love trying new places, good or bad, we ventured in. And this was also one of the only places in town that let us bring our dog onto the patio (technically not allowed to, but the girl behind the bar said she didn't mind.) After reading some reviews we decided to try a burger, and some wings, both of what we were looking for. The food came very quick and we were eating in no time. We had one of the bartenders as a waitress as it wasn't very busy the day we went in and honestly I don't know if they even had any wait staff on duty at the time. You could tell she wasn't used to waiting but it really wasn't that big of a deal, she was very nice and got us everything we requested. About 10 minutes after we ordered my mouth started to water and I picked up a distinct smell. As I mimicked my dog sniffing into the air I could tell our food was on it's way out the door. A good sign if you can smell your food from 50 feet away. The moment the burger and wings were set down I fell in love with the place. I think I may have even blacked out for a second because let me tell you, the food that was set in front of me are in the Top 5 in their respective categories. The wings and burger that we ate that day are very memorable. The tenderness of the burger was outstanding and the wings were cooked brilliantly. As some of the other reviews mentioned the burger was noticeably seasoned unlike some of the others who leave it to the meat to do the talking. Both ways are fine and get the job done. As always, I scouted out the drink selection and it was where I would want it to be with a good selection and my new favorite Sierra Nevada on the menu. I would have to check out the dinner scene to get a more advanced look at the atmosphere during the busy times but I can imagine that it would be absolutely fine to go here for dinner. I know this because it was more than absolutely fine to go here for lunch. It was outstanding.
(4)
Andi B.
Having been several times, I figure it is time to review. Of course, the only food I've had is the burgers and they have been consistently great! The fries are steak and fine but not great, but really it is all about the burger. It is a small place so if you go on a weekend for dinner, be prepared for a wait. Most of the tables are set for four. Halfway through our last visit we did agree to switch to another table so that their party of eight could be accommodated. Having sat at the bar a few times it appears they have a decent selection, but I always choose my old standby. I seem to only make it in the cool months so I've never enjoyed that patio, but they have one and off-street parking. Definitely a good place to meet with friends over burgers and beers!
(4)
Katherine M.
I had high hopes for this place. It had great reviews and was excited about the "best burger" designation, although I have learned to take that with a grain of salt. We came at around 12:30 on a Sunday (Bengals game day) to find it not too crowded. The inside of this place is small - the booths are broken and every time the kid behind me moved my seat jolted violently. I chose to sit on one side of the booth with the husband with no other group behind it. The decor is random and kind of felt like a bunch of people went through their basement's and decorated. It's not terrible, but it's just weird. Waitstaff wasn't all too friendly - or attentive. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer and I got the house salad and my husband the burger with wisconsin cheddar and grilled onions. The onion rings came out first, piping hot, and were pretty delicious. They were cooked well and pretty tasty, although I salted them and thought they were missing a bit something, I still really enjoyed them. The burger was nothing special - the Wisconsin cheddar was bland and kind of like American Cheese (I guess it's possible it was just America) and the grilled onions were cold - they also has some sort of weird goo on them. I highly disliked them. The burger itself just didn't stand out - not great meat, not great flavor. I wouldn't order it again. The salad was okay - nothing special - kind of a grocery store bagged taste. Raspberry vinaigrette was terrible. Overall, I don't know if I would go back. Their beer selection included nothing I like, no brewed iced tea, and an off fountain for soda. Nothing I'd be running back for.
(2)
Emily S.
Oh, Oakley Pub. I was so excited to try you! Your parking lot seems so full! Everyone loves you! I love a good burger! Why, why, why.... Well, my husband and I dropped in for a later dinner on a weeknight. The place was packed. Then, apparently, we had unknowingly walked into "Trivia Night". Ooops. No points against them for this, it is just hard to carry on a conversation over a loudspeaker asking questions about popular brand cereals, etc. Our waitress was practically nonexistent. I know the place was busy, but we waited a long time for our drinks and food for that matter. We ordered the nachos as an app and I ordered the mushroom burger medium and onion rings for my entree. The nachos were great, wonderful portion. However, all of our food came out at once (huge no no for me! very annoying). And, then, I excitedly bit into my burger. It was horribly over cooked. Like, really bad. And the burger tasted entirely of black pepper and nothing else. Really, Oakley Pub? Saving grace was the onion rings rocked. True story. My husband assures me this was a strange, out of the ordinary experience (his burger was well done, too and sub par) and that we need to try it again on a not-Trivia-night. Overall, the experience was under-extrodinary. Willing to give it another shot, will update my review then. Until then, I will be getting my burger fix at Gordo's!
(2)
Ed P.
A couple of weekends ago I arranged for a happy hour with a few friends and my wife at the Oakley Pub & Grill before heading over to the nearby St. Cecilia's church festival. Happy hour specials run from 3-6pm Monday through Friday and feature $2 off appetizers and 50 cents off beer. We arrived shortly after 5pm expecting to find the small space completely packed, but there were only a few tables occupied. We grabbed a table for our group and ordered a couple of rounds of appetizers. First up were the boneless buffalo tenders served with homemade blue cheese dressing. The menu also indicated that there would be celery served with the dish, but we received none. For the happy hour price of $5.95 the tenders were quite a bit of food and were tasty. They weren't drenched in sauce like buffalo wings tend to be, the sauce was cooked into the chicken tender more, which was a little cleaner to eat. Next up, my favorite of our choices, was the basil chicken quesadilla. This quesadilla is a little different from normal with the inclusion of fresh basil and mozzarella cheese, but I found the change refreshing. Plus the standard grilled chicken, tomatoes, salsa, and sour cream are included to give it a little standard flair. During happy hour this dish is only $4.95, which is a deal! I saw a couple orders of nachos being served and those too looked good. We split the appetizers a few ways, so my wife and I were still hungry for a little more food. We decided to split the chicken philly sandwich, which was served with fries for $6.95, which is very reasonable. This sandwich is served with grilled onions, mushrooms, and banana peppers, along with provolone cheese and an olive tapenade. The menu didn't indicate that pickles, tomatoes, and raw onion would be included, but that can easily be removed if not wanted. My wife and I left the fixings on the sandwich, but still found it to be fairly bland. Maybe we should have swapped the mayo that is served on the beef philly in place of the olive tapenade. A friend of ours had the grouper fillet sandwich (sorry no photo) and really enjoyed it. I've read other reviews praising this sandwich, so that should be a safe bet. The burgers are also supposed to be good, but no one in our party tried one. I'd also like to give the pizza a try on a future visit. I'm sure we will be back for this very affordable happy hour if nothing else.
(3)
Marianne C.
We were looking for someplace to eat before a show at the Twentieth Century Theatre, and this place was close and highly rated by Yelpers. Made the mistake of going out to a pub on St. Paddy's Day, but left impressed by the quality of service, Guinness, and mushroom swiss burger - just wish I knew they put mayo on it... yuck! The crowd was a mix of Oxford-emigres (aka Miami University students wearing green beer day shirts) and locals. Everyone was well-behaved although I really wondered how one woman had dirty knees. There was a story there that I would never learn.
(4)
Adolfo N.
Fat man full!!!! these burgers are tasty, and beefy, exactly what you are looking for in little meat cakes. As a restaurant this place falls short or service (it's a bar, what do you expect?) So do yourself a favor, pull up to the bar, grab a menu, have a drink, and enjoy a very satisfying hamburger.
(4)
Matt H.
To preface....I try and find value in every place I go and then talk about it in these reviews. I'm having a really hard time doing that for Oakley Pub. Everyone seems to love this place and I've heard great things. My experience didn't even remotely reflect ANY of those great things. We had a seat and ordered drinks. Then waited 10 minutes to order food and another 35 before we got the food. I can understand that some place DO take a little longer for good food. What sucks is that the food was barely warm, at best, when it finally hit our table. Not once while we waited for our food (or after it came, for that matter) did our server stop by, or ask us if we wanted refills. Nobody asked how the food was after it came. This was some of the worst service I've ever gotten....especially at a local joint. My wife got a burger (not hot) & fries (almost cold) and I got garlic wings (not hot) and cheese fries (almost cold), all of which had obviously been sitting for at least 5-10 minutes. It's sad, because I would have reviewed the food a lot higher and it could have saved the overall experience if everything were fresh. But it wasn't. The only thing keeping me from rating this experience lower is that the first guy that brought us our drinks was really nice and courteous...... We won't be going back.
(2)
Linsey G.
I love cheeseburgers. If I were to die tomorrow, I would be sure to gorge myself with as many of them as physically possible. There are many delicious burger joints in the Cincinnati area, and--in my opinion--Oakley Pub's is top 5 material. Not long after I started working on the East side of town, I put out a blast on Twitter to ask where I could find some delicious burgers (Zip's, Terry's and Arthur's not-withstanding, as I had already had--and loved--them, and was looking for something new). A friend suggested that I try Oakley Pub, and I thought I'd try it out even though I had never been there and wasn't super familiar with the area. It was a little hard to find and the construction currently on Madison is a little more for one to handle, but I arrived and couldn't wait to try what I heard was a really great burger. I went on a Wednesday and--as luck would have it--I saw a sign out front indicating that it was Burger Mania, a special in which you get a burger fully dressed with fries for $6. I sat at the bar, where I could easily see and hear ESPN on the flat screen TVs. The servers were friendly, and it is obvious they deal with a lot of regulars. Unfamiliar with the Burger Mania phenomenon, I stuck to a pretty basic set-up: burger cooked medium with american, provolone, lettuce, onion and a side of mayo. (Side note: I like my burgers with cheese and sometimes other things as mentioned in my order. Yes, a burger connoisseur can eat plain-ish burgers because--in my opinion--it's all about the taste of the meat, not about how much junk you can fit in between two buns.) I got my burger, and it was really, really great. It was cooked perfectly, the burger to bun ratio was on par, and the provolone/american cheese combo was stellar. The fries are good, but not outstanding, as steak fries aren't my favorite. The atmosphere is your standard pub: comfortable, laid back and a great place to socialize with friends or to sit by yourself to enjoy a burger while watching ESPN.
(4)
Scott S.
Awesome local bar. Owner is making a lot of improvements too, including a great patio. New basement also. One of my most frequented when I'm in cincy.
(5)
Niamh O.
How have I not reviewed the OPG? Goodness. I really love this place. It's unpretentious, local, friendly, good for a quick meal or for setting up shop at the bar for a few hours. The food is really good. I'm a huge fan of the Asian slaw that comes with the burgers (Don't worry--you can get fries, too). The beer specials are pretty decent, and who can complain about $1.75 PBR? It's a fun place to watch a game, too, and one of my favorite spots during March Madness. If I had to complain, it would be that sometimes their mixed drinks run pricey. But, like I said, with $1.75 PBR, there's really not much to whine about. I'm an Oakleyite, and this is absolutely the best bar in Oakley. Always fun, and the bartenders are fabulously friendly. Go in. Stay a while. You'll like it.
(4)
Lizbeth T.
In a neighborhood with several good bar and grill options, Oakley Pub has managed to carve out its own spot with really great pub food and good service. The burgers are great, blackened fish sandwiches are tasty, and the asian slaw *(fresh and crunchy) is so good I'm sometimes able to convince myself to substitute for fries. Otherwise, it's your typical neighborhood pub, with several tvs tuned to at least 2 or 3 different games. The smaller size gives it an intimate feel, but I've never waited more than 10 or 15 minutes for a table.
(4)
Tommy P.
Pub = tavern = saloon. Somehow, I must not look important enough when I sat at the bar when obviously the lady at the bar area was organizing her glass without saying anything. Don't think they sell food after 10 pm when I had asked if the kitchen was open. I had thought that this place had food to serve but really no one asked if I wanted the menu. The counter at the bar was a full blown copper tone (pretty sure that its real). I'll say it was decent for my experience, but would only suggest if you like drinking and hanging around the bar, hardcore style.
(2)
Courtney S.
This is my week for trying things I should have tried by now lol. I went to Oakley Pub with my friend, because he is on the Burger Quest, and I am tagging along to document it lol. Wednesdays are Burger Mania where you get a burger plus five toppings for six bucks. My friend got a burher with grilled onions, mushrooms, jerk seasonings, mayo and ketchup. It came with fries so I ate that (for free haha). The burger was THICK. He never waits for me to get my camera before he chomps in, so the pic I am posting, he has already made his marklol. He said the burger was BETTER than Terry's! He said it was cooked better, seasoned better and more flavorful! I ate the fries, they were ok, just a tad over cooked. They were steak fries and I do like them, but they weren't the best. All in all he said it wak good, and I'm glad I got the free fries :-)
(4)
Michelle R.
If you want a burger, come here! yum! On Wednesday they do burger night where any toppings you like for $7. the onion rings are great, and i have had the chicken sandwich with siracha mayo and bacon more times than I like to admit. Great staff and good price on drinks.
(4)
Rachael G.
I'm somewhat bias towards OPG (Oakley Pub and Grill) due to it's proximity to my house. That being said, I do enjoy coming here pretty much for anything: Sunday brunch (bottomless mimosas, 'nuff said), football games, late dinner, etc. I always seem to get the fish tacos, but their burgers are great too. Now,with a finished bar in the basement and 2 patios, I can come here no matter what sort of a mood I'm in.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
Everybody needs a "we could always just there" bar and this is that place to me. Easy to get to from my house, good craft beers, good burgers, laid back crowd, parking lot, friendly bartenders, great jukebox. What more can I say? I love this place. Also, bonus outdoor patio during the warmer months.
(5)
Steve H.
Updated by adding a basement and most recently a patio. Numerous burgers to choose from which are made with fresh meat. The cole slaw with Raman noodles is an excellent side vs the run of the mill steak fries. Glad they have expanded to accomodate the always busy Pub.
(4)
N M.
Small, comfortable pub in the heart of Oakley square area. I liked it ... we had the wings and burgers, both were great. I have heard many good things about the burgers in the area (Arthurs, Zips and the Oakley Pub) ... but I have to say Oakley Pub is my favorite. More of a seasoned burger than the other two locations ... even thought they didnt get the temperature right on anyone's burger. No matter what anyone ordered they came out well done (but were still great). Small, but nice patio section as well.
(4)
Sarah T.
The Pub is a great mix of sports bar and casual hangout. It has plenty going on but spares visitors of obnoxious, loud sports fans. I've never had the food because the kitchen is always closed by the time I arrive after a night at work. The bartenders are personable and the patio is nice. Can't wait for summer with the new outdoor fireplace!
(4)
Seb R.
Small neighborhood place. Very small. Built to be more of a hole in the wall kind of bar, but it can get very crowded pretty quickly (at best only suitable to hold 30-40 people comfortably). They have jam-packed many tables and it can make you feel very cramped. The food selection isn't too bad if you want a burger and fries, perhaps even a fish or chicken sandwich. But there is nothing spectacular about the burgers. Its not like eating at Quatman or Terry's. From what I recall, the service was fairly decent and I kind of felt bad for them since it seemed like they were constantly on the go in that tiny establishment. The one major downside I find with this place is the beer/liquor selection and prices. Drinking at the Oakley Pub can get kind of pricey, even if its just a beer or two with your burger and fries. Overall, not a bad little place to try if you are in the neighborhood. Just nothing to get too excited about.
(2)
Jessalynn S.
Oakley Pub and Grill makes a mean hamburger. The best time to go is on Wednesday when they do their burger special, and you can "build your own" burger with 5-6 toppings for $6. The burgers are quite tasty and I'm a big fan of their steak fries (although I tend to prefer this kind of fry in general). My biggest complaint with the place is the set up. It's a small bar to begin with, and with too many tables crammed into it, it makes me feel claustrophobic most times I'm there when it's busy. And it's usually busy, especially on weekends and for burger and trivia nights. If you're craving a burger, this is a good solid option. If you're a big fan of elbow room, though, this might not be the joint for you.
(3)
Josie P.
Have eaten here multiple times and usually it is good, but I guess we learned the hard way to check your to- go order before walking out the door. Ordered two cheese burgers plain with fries... only to open them at home and find two burgers fully dressed with mayonnaise, pickles, onions and lettuce. Sorry, but lettuce is the only easy item to remove. The rest kind of ruins the burger if you're not a fan. Simple order... really screwed up.
(2)
Jessica S.
We love Oakley Pub because it's our place where "everyone knows your name". We live nearby & enjoy popping in for a beer & often a late-night snack. Their burgers aren't our favorite in Cincinnati but they're certainly worth it. We usually go for the Zola burger w/ fries & a side of slaw & then split it. The bartenders now just have the kitchen cut it in half for us, which is nice. The slaw is awesome! It's unique & since we don't usually care for a creamy coleslaw, the tangy asian-y-ness of OPG's slaw hits the mark. The new patio is great & we have enjoyed a game of cornhole near the fireplace on the recent brisk fall evenings. The only reason I don't give OPG five stars is because the burgers often don't come out at the ordered temp.... we go medium/medium-rare & most often it's medium-well.... though, they still taste good so it's not the end of the world. I have never been here to have a "sit-down dinner" so I can't really comment of the service of the wait-staff... To me, this place is a bar with food as opposed to a restaurant with a bar. Drinks are usually the m.o. & they just happen to have a yummy menu. :)
(4)
Dan M.
Had a burger here. It was allright. There are a lot of burgers in Cincinnati. The waitress was terrible. Bottom Line: I'd go back, but I wouldn't seek it out.
(3)
Heather J.
It's a great bar spot in Oakley...very comfortable and fun. That wrap was delightful! The atmosphere is cute and fun - can be a little tight if it's packed. The wait staff is always fun (and pretty cute). The price is very fair and comparable to Habits, Arthurs, etc... The pizza is sooooooooo cheesy! It's very simple and tasty - but if you like cheese - GET THE PIZZA! The burgers are good as well...really haven't had anything bad there! All sandwiches, etc... are approx $10. OPG: 3 stars from the Food Hussy
(4)
Eric M.
A good local hangout with a good amount of TVs. I wish that they had a few more craft beer selections but what they have is pretty good. Didn't try the food but it looked like normal pub food. They do have bottomless mimosas on Sundays which can be a good deal if you're into that stuff. It's in a good location but kind of small. They have an outdoor patio in the back which has a lot more room with TVs. A solid choice to meet some locals in the Oakley Sq area.
(4)
Eleni K.
Decent Bar food and the patio is awesome!
(4)
Damon D.
We spent a lot of time reading reviews for the best burger in town. My wife and I settled on trying Oakley Pub. When we arrived the restaurant was full and we were seated fairly quickly, however, that was the highlight of the evening. We waited almost 10 minutes before someone brought us a menu. We learned that several of the drink choices, listed on the menu, were out, so at this point we ordered our meals and drinks. I received my drink but the server forgot about my wife's and went off to get it. After 5-10 minutes we asked about her drink and the server realized she forgot about it and went back to get it. Finally the burgers arrived and this is what we came for. We ordered the Black and Blue prepared medium-well. Both burgers were incredibly rare and the fries were cold. They had to be sent back to the kitchen to be re-cooked. Unfortunately we left we a poor experience and would not recommend visiting this restaurant. Once the food order was corrected the burger was good at best but not amazing. Sorry Oakley Pub but you are going to have to do better for a couple who paid for a sitter so we could visit your restaurant.
(1)
Jordan M.
Oakley Pub is one the best in the area, complete with both indoor and outdoor bars and dining areas, as well as basement area. This pub has a relaxed vibe and attracts a wide variety of visitors. The quality is great as well as the prices, and has been reliably a good time.
(4)
Chelsea V.
Great service, cozy atmosphere and a cute lighted porch! This pub is adorably placed on the corner of Madison and Isabelle in, I guess it's obvious - Oakley. After washing my laundry conveniently across the street and after persuasion from my man, I visited this quaint corner pub. We were greeted with a smile and the service was tip top. The food menu speaks to a bar atmosphere - burgers, Phillie's, loaded french fries, wings, but then...fish tacos and stuffed portabellas? Not having a stomach big enough for all of this mouth watering goodness, I opted for a Philly. The steak fries where great and the bar accommodated every body's drink needs (even a pitcher of cranberry juice for an el preggo;)...). I have to admit, the Guinness pours were superb. My accomplice being a Guinness ONLY drinker, we have encounter a many too frothies, or watered downs, but these were right on target. Beautiful pours, great service, and a nice atmosphere.
(4)
Will H.
This is a bar, it is a small bar, it is a crowded bar, it is a good bar. We went here on our burger tour based on the cincinnati magazine article "The 40 Best Burgers in the Queen City." We had to order our burger at the bar because there was not room at any tables for us. They have good drink specials and the specials during the week are good too. Their staff is friendly, but I feel like they could use a hand or two helping them out on a saturday night, it took a long time to get served. We ordered the Soul Burger with Onion Rings here. The bun was extra sweet and I have few details on what was on/in the burger since we never saw a menu. But there was something on this burger or in the meat that was just absolutely fabulous! It was amazing and the texture of the meat was really fine. The onion rings were hot, crisp and the onions stayed with the outer batter... they were some of the best onion rings I've ever had. Really amazing.
(4)
Alex N.
I like the look of this place on the inside, and I don't mind how small it is until it's extremely crowded. I ordered the Hawaiian burger and it was solid. The best part about the burger was that it was cooked the way I asked it to be cooked, which seems pretty uncommon in places like this. I was pleasantly surprised when I bit into it and discovered that it was indeed medium rare. The worst problem with the burger? I bit into some kind of plastic...thing. I think it was whatever the cook was using to check the temperature of the burger. Not cool. While the burger was good, the toppings were okay. The bacon was kind of flimsy and the pineapple was most likely taken out of a can and "grilled" for a few seconds, and it tasted a little odd. I liked the bun, and the sriracha mayo was a great touch. The coleslaw was decent, but I would have liked it more if it was made with a creamy dressing. I kinda wish I had gone with the fries, which looked good. The service was good, and I liked the food, except for the plastic piece that ended up in my burger. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I'd go again.
(3)
William D.
Regardless of what you read on here, if you go to OPG you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't get the fried grouper on rye with slaw. Hands down the best fish sandwich in the Queen City. Their slaw alone is worth a trip. Very unique, fresh, plentiful, and delicious. Their burgers are good too but their fish sandwich is the signature menu item in my opinion.
(4)
Dan J.
I ended up at Oakley Pub & Grill because I got lost on the way to dinner and my wife finally just wanted to eat somewhere. We parked and walked around for a bit before we spotted the pub and headed over. It's a nice little bar: smoke free, showing the game to what appeared to be a crowd of regulars. The food was kind of surprising. I ordered a house salad with my dinner for only an additional $1.50, and it was exceptional for a side salad, from a bar or otherwise: romaine lettuce, feta cheese, raisins, tomatoes, carrots, and sunflower seeds. Contrast that with other side salads I've ordered consisting of little more than iceburg lettuce and old tomatoes. My wife was also surprised by the "unique slaw", an Asian style coleslaw complete with crunchy ramen noodles.
(5)
Diem W.
I am consistently wowed by the quality and taste of the food at Oakley Pub and Grill. I live in the Oakley area, and it is my favorite restaurant within miles (actually, I think it's the best food I've had in what is primarily a bar setting). I take my family there at least once a week. The price is right, the atmosphere is laid back, and the staff is very friendly. Their daily specials (food and drink) are fantastic, as are their homemade soups. I recommend the wings (try the hot garlic), the veggie wrap, burgers, and salads. I think you can tell a lot about a restaurant by the quality of their side salads -- order one...you will be impressed (though I'm not much of a fan of their house dressing - sweet vinaigrette - try balsalmic if you're not into fruity dressings). My wife loves the seafood items (grouper sandwich and tacos). I hear they have a good Trivia Night on Tuesdays at 8pm, but I've yet to check it out. Go check this place out!
(4)
Bridgette M.
The place has never disappointed me. I love the food, service, decor...even the restroom. You must try the fish tacos with a side of slaw. Soo yummy!
(5)
Jason B.
I've only been to Oakley Pub once, and that was to kick-back and decompress with a couple of friends after a long day at work. We didn't order any food, just had some beers to relax. Making our way through the interior (which looks like any other bar), we headed over to the patio and sat at one of the tables. This allowed us to drink, enjoy the fresh air, bask in the cool breeze that warded off the summer heat, and sneak the occasional cigarette as we enjoyed our beer (can't do that inside anymore because of the smoking ban in Ohio). We were there for a few hours. It was a great, easy-going place that allowed us to relax, enjoy each other's company, gripe about our jobs and bosses, and get to know each other more. Our waiter was really great (attentive, but never intrusive) and the costs of the price of beer was great! I've heard the food is good, so I'll need to go back and give that a try. As it stands, my limited exposure to Oakley Pub was a good one, and I'd readily recommend it. Mahalo, and enjoy.
(5)
James G.
Would have given this place 5 stars, but found myself chewing on a bone half way through my burger on Burger Mania Wednesday :) Outside of that, it was actually pretty damn good! Try the cole slaw as your side. Definitely a signature side dish you will find at none other than Oakley's. 2 Words for ya, Ramen Noodles! Good selection of beers,nice outdoor patio, staff was laid back, friendly and cool. Will defintely visit again on my next trip back to Cinci.
(4)
Mary Beth B.
The Oakley Pub is one of my favorite places to go. The atmosphere is great with a small town bar feel. The service is attentive and their beer selection is decent, too. I LOVE their burgers, may rate as one of the best in the NKY/Cincy area for me. I have never ordered anything off the menu that I didn't like. When my husband and I are in the area and we want to go to a restaurant where we know everything will be tip-top... we pick the Oakley Pub!
(4)
Joe J.
Good consistent food. Stay away from the quesadillas, but everything else is fair game. Blackened fish tacos are great, just make sure to order some fresh limes on the side. Have to say that the burgers here are in the top 5 in Cincinnati and not to be passed up. Burger madness is on Wednesdays. This plus a beer on drink special is a great low-budg meal.
(4)
Peter B.
The Oakley Pub & Grill touts "Best Burger in Cincinnati 2007." What a difference 4 years makes! I ordered the burger medium-rare, it came medium-well. The onion rings looked like they were straight out of the freezer bag. Nothing special here. Take my advice and drive the extra 10 minutes to the Turf Club!
(2)
rusty r.
Every day of the week, a special. If you're cutting your expenses in these times, but still want to get out of the house... this is your place. Specials on food and drinks.... every day. For instance, burger wednesdays for $6... up to 5 toppings. The Asian slaw that it came with was surprisingly fantastic. And, it's a local little place, definitely worth supporting. 3 stars.
(3)
Benjamin B.
Cool bar, solid burger although I wish the pineapples on my hawaiian had a bit more flavor. I didn't drink but it looked like they had a good beer selection. Service is pretty good too. I'll return.
(4)
Tim E.
Great Quality Pub Food. Fish Tacos and Ruben are stand outs. Also good spin on burgers and their traditional Wings are best around.
(4)
Zack C.
The Oakley Pub is a great choice for a casual feast of burgers and beer. I've been a patron of Zip's and Arthur's -- both Cincinnati institutions -- for many years and am so impressed with the quality of food and the ambiance of the Oakley Pub that I have worked it into my Cincinnati burger rotation. It is a real up and coming hangout with a great neighborhood feel. If you want to give their burgers a try, make sure to go on a Wednesday to get their $6 deal. I almost always get the "Memphis" which has BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese.
(4)
Ryan H.
I'm always a big fan of a Pub... any kind of Pub, because it means I can always get a draft beer. Great place for lunch... you can get an excellent burger at a good price. Get the Soul Burger or the Southwestern Burger... both were effin' good. Their Happy Hour is pretty WEAK... $.50 of Beer and Wine, that's sorry... :( at least make an even $1.00
(4)
Rebecca J.
I usually go to have some drinks with the girls and like the laid back scene and friendly staff. I did have a reuben there and I was pleasantly surprised because it was so good. Pub food done well.
(4)
Liz A.
i met up with avani and lauren at oakley pub & grill to plan our first cincinnati imports event... which, coincidentally, will be held at oakley pub & grill! funny how that works. i have eaten here a number of times and just never write about it. normally i order a burger there. their burgers are really tasty. they put some spices into the meat. now it's no terry's, don't kid yourself, but it's a respectable bar burger. i always get the slaw instead of fries because i love it. cabbage, ramen noodles, and a sweet and savory dressing... sooo good and crunchy. this time i decided to branch out with my entree and gave the reuben a shot. ever since courtyard stopped making theirs last spring (which i still bitch about every time i go there... they are starting to hate me), i have not found a really amazing reuben in this city. well readers, i am happy to say that oakley pub & grill has a damn good reuben. tasty corned beef, melty cheese, and very well grilled. mmmm... i am sure there are a lot of izzy's fans out there, and while i like izzy's as much as the next food blogger, i am not a rabid fan. my problems with izzy's: * the meat is too fatty (i know you can order the lean but i always forget) * the bread is not grilled * at certain izzy's locations (7th and elm, i'm looking at you) they do not put thousand island dressing on the sammie. unforgivable! that being said, i do like izzy's, it's just not a life altering gustatory experience for me the way courtyard's was. but back to oakley pub & grill. the reuben is good, the slaw is good, the burgers are good. oh yeah and avani also shared some wings and they were delicious. we got hot sauce and it was nice and spicy and the wings were crispy, juicy, and not greasy. really good. avani got a mushroom burger sans bun (she is doing low carb week) and they were happy to oblige. lauren, who does not eat meat other than fish, got the portobello appetizer stuffed with crab. she said it was really good. she also got fries and ate them up. oakley pub and grill is a slightly above average neighborhood bar with slightly above average food. one thing that is great is that they are really friendly. our server answered all our questions (many of them not food related) and the owner came out and chatted with us. another awesome thing about this bar is that they have food and drink specials every night. on wednesdays a burger with up to five toppings and either fries or slaw is $6, on mondays wings are $0.40 each, etc. if you are in the neighborhood, you should definitely hit them up.
(4)
Rise G.
Ahh...small little restaurant / bar with the great wings! How I do miss your wings. I haven't been able to find any as good as yours on the left coast. And the burgers....Sean is correct - they do have some of the best burgers in town. Also check out their sister restaurants / bars for some good food if you are in their area - 915 in Ft Thomas and Zola in Covington. yum!
(4)
Sean B.
Yes, Zips has good burgers. Arthur's does, too. But often overlooked is the Oakley Pub on the corner of Isabella and Madison. Serving up a 1/2 lb of angus beef with fries or slaw, Oakley knows what they are doing with their meat. Try the Banana Jack Burger (banana peppers and jack cheese).
(4)
krissy r.
i have only been here for drinks, but i very much enjoyed my three olives blueberry vodka and sprite. friendly atmosphere. i'd like to give it a try for dinner sometime.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
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Ben R.
Oakley Pub and Grill, a sure fire place to get good pub food and variants on pub food. Ask for half and half sides! First I would be amiss if I didn't mention their uniquely delicious cole slaw. It uses a vinegar base as the starting point for a sauce that resembles more of an Asian sesame ginger dressing than a cole slaw one. Be prepared and you won't be disappointed. Their buffalo dip is slightly addictive and is enough to fill you up if you try to eat it alone. Share it with some friends and you'll be glad you did! One tip from the title, half and half sides. Don't want a large cereal bowl full of cole slaw with your wrap, but can't down a pound of fries either? Ask for half cole slaw and half fries and get a reasonable amount of both. It's also an easy way to try their cole slaw without having to fully commit! Overall their food is up to par and they have that special something that makes them unique.
(4)Suz M.
The menu is nothing spectacular, but the food is decent as are prices. The best thing about it is that they have a patio where I can dine with my dog (always a winner in my book) and a parking lot (if you're lucky enough to find a space). A friend and I went here specifically for the purpose of dining with our dogs. I liked that I could get a veggie burger and we were both pleased with the relaxing, folksy music from the band that was playing. It was a nice Sunday afternoon. I would definitely return here the next time I want to dine out with my dog. There are two patio areas, but you want the one that is adjacent to the parking lot (not the one in the front on the sidewalk). This was my second visit here and I much prefer the roomier outside patio to the cramped inside dining. There is an area both upstairs and downstairs inside, but they both are cramped and almost impossible to move if there is a crowd. Both times the food was decent, but service was a little lackadaisical. While it wouldn't be my first place to choose, it is a solid choice and the option to have my dog with me will always put it over the top.
(3)John B.
There have been a few times in my life that I've been blown away by how good the food, and this was one of them. I had heard that their burgers were good, but I've been to places claiming to have great burgers and they have been just average. I ordered the Soul Burger and at that point was the best burger I've ever had. I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to find some of the best burgers in Cincinnati
(5)Courtney P.
My Cincy Burger Week adventures brought my friends and I to Oakley Pub and Grill for the first time and I don't think this will be our last! The place was very busy and super packed when I arrived. Seating was first come first serve so I was lucky enough to grab a table for 5 of us inside and near the bar. I would have prefer eating outside but apparently everyone else had the bright idea first. The staff was very friendly and made sure we had drinks and were happy to answer any questions despite them being very busy. We all ordered the Western Burger which was their $5 Burger Week offering and we were happy to see that it came with fries. Another friend also ordered chicken wings. The wings came out quickly and had this unique, and delicious dry rub which we ended up scraping off her place and taking home with us in a little container. Unfortunately, our burgers did not come out as quickly as the wings but I expected that giving how busy they were. When they finally did arrive they were HOT, not warm, not medium, but hot and juicy like a burger should be. The bacon was cooked perfectly and the meat well seasoned. My only gripe: the fries weren't very good. The were hard and lukewarm which I found to be weird since they had to be cranking out lots of fries for the burgers. I can't wait to come back and try some of their other offerings like their daily special and delicous appetizers. This place was great!
(5)Andy V.
The customer service here was awesome. We decided to go out for a casual dinner and take our dog to get him out of his "comfort zone" and the staff were awesome. When we got there the first thing the waitress did was bring us a bowl of water for the dog. The entire patio staff were super friendly not only to use but to our dog as well. The food was good but the service was awesome. If you have a dog and want to take him to dinner with you this place will always be our first choice.
(5)Esther K.
Food is okay, not the best burger in Cincinnati. But the outdoor seating is nice and they have a good beer list!
(3)Sarah B.
I'm reviewing OPG as an eating establishment and not so much the bar aspect. The location is perfect, nestled in the corner of Madison and Isabella. Parking is a bit of a mess but there seems to be a lot of it. Definitely the back patio is the place to be, eating or drinking. However, expect to get smoke blown in your face while you are eating. We had the rueben with fries, the mushroom veggie burger and 5 garlic wings, hot. The veggie pattie was most likely a morning star frozen pattie so not worth the money but the rest of the food was good. The fries are not spiced at all so Id get a different side if you want some flavor. Overall, I would go back to try a real burger and stick to drinking adult beverages.
(3)Adam B.
Went here for Cincinnati burger week and had the Memphis burger which was a very good burger. Had the coleslaw which is different than most but was enjoyable. They run great daily deals. Service was super quick. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)Brian K.
The Oakley Pub & Grill is well known for their delicious burgers, and we're sure they are the bomb but we prefer our meat soaked in vodka. Thankfully, they also have an ass-kicking bloody mary! Made spicy, just the way we like them, and served with a pickle, and olive, cheese and SLIM JIM garnish! We coulda handled the entire Slim Jim, but I guess we needed to save room for that burger. They also serve their bloody with a beer chaser, as the good lord intended it. We chose Guiness, because if you must drink something that isn't a bloody mary, it might as well be the greatest beer ever. We freaking love the midwest! For more bloodies, check out bloodyamerica.com
(4)Ngocuyen N.
I had a great time at at the OPG. The two beers I had before my food came might've helped, but honestly the place was nice. The place felt so chill I really could've just hung out there and drank the evening away. You could sit inside or there's a great patio outside too. It wasn't anything fancy but kind of cute. It was definitely relaxing and comfortable. It's the kind of bar where you could've taken your coworker, your date, your kid or your mother. There was a guy there having a quiet dinner with his little boy. The burgers people ordered looked amazing! So juicy and of a good size. There's a great selection of beer on tap and not. The food surpasses your average bar food too. I ordered the crab-stuffed portobello, which was great- seasoned, cooked right, a good portion for the price I paid. There are other yummy looking fried options too. I think there's happy hour/day for wine too (half price or $10/bottle?) on certain days. Services at the bar and table were both good.
(4)Rachel F.
Good food been a couple times now! I've had a burger and the buffalo chicken wrap and both hit the spot! Great place to go grab a beer and enjoy good food while watching the game. Dogs seem to be allowed outside on the patio which we love! We will definitely be back for more!!
(5)Kyle W.
Went to checkout OPG as the locals call it for their trivia night and their burgers, which I had heard were very good. I went with the black and bleu burger as any sane person should. It did not disappoint! It definitely had a unique taste but was very tasty. Not a fan of the bun though. Somewhat hard and too much bun compared to the burger. Our group also gave the buffalo chicken dip a whirl - it was very good and a great portion amount for the price! Trivia was also fun, although it does drag on for quite sometime. All in all, a solid, cool spot!
(4)Charles S.
I've been here twice and enjoyed my burgers both times. The first time I went with fries over slaw expecting the slaw to be the normal with a lot of sauce but their slaw has dried ramen in it and isn't runny. The slaw is more like a salad and I recommend it. The restaurant can get very busy at peak times but is pretty empty if you come at about 1:30. They have a pretty good beer selection.
(4)Christine L.
It is Sunday Funday day. I came down with a friend with the intention of taking her to Oakley Pub. All the chairs were up on the tables, and literally locked the door in our faces forty minutes before closing time. I would love to review them, given the opportunity, but I wasn't given the opportunity to do so, and I don't think I will be back.
(1)Bruce Y.
I'm there almost every Wednesday for Burgermania - a good burger with up to 5 toppings, and a big bowl of their "unique slaw" for $7.95.
(4)Marie M.
Ambiance good- for a dive that's a wannabe dive in trendy area Crab cakes- horrid - take 9 lives cat food w/ celery and fry it - that's what you get gawd awful prison food- Do not tell me to not order seafood in a bar. There are millions of dives with excellent seafood out there - I thought this was /maybe kinda one - I was wrong. Gawd awfulness. Wings good for fried etc. I'm going to puke 9 lives crab cakes.
(3)Ralph H.
It's small, noisy, and the staff kind of hangs around cracking their chewing gum. The beer on tap is super lame. Bud, Bud light, etc. The only non wimpy beer on the tap list was Guinness. The food was typical bar food. Big screens had the reds game on. Whoop de doo. Habits across the street has a much better menu, and they've been around longer and do it much better. Better beer there too. This place isn't that hip.
(2)Cindy G.
UPDATE: So the service is still rock star solid. Just wanted to pop in and remind everyone that the outdoor patio is fully finished and is spectacular. I had lunch out there today and it was pure bliss! This is a great places to catch games with groups because they always have specials and they have outdoor TV's on the back patio. I was surprised by how clean and nice it is actually for being a sports bar. Love it here. Really great food, relaxing atmosphere. Everything a neighborhood pub should be.
(4)Carrie H.
Love this place. We dine in rarely... Usually get carry out, so I can't comment on the service (though when we do dine there we've always had great service.) favorites are the chicken wings, buffalo chicken pizza and fish tacos. I know they're known for their burgers but I don't eat ground beef often so... Food is consistently good. Decent beer selection. Half price bottle wine night is very nice. Good stuff.
(5)Adam B.
A very small place that runs a tight ships. Seems to be family ran based on the pictures hanging on the wall in this old building. For how small the kitchen was, It was impressive how much food they served out quickly . check out how small this kitchen is! The food is really good for bar fare and has daily specials. Tasty Philly cheese steak and baja fish tacos. Could use better fries. I really liked the old copper bar counter top they had. Has flat screens for sports, outdoor patio with fireplace, and sidewalk seating. In sum, a different place to drink some duffs and snack on some wings. Also, the Guinness was properly served on the correct tap with NO2=mmmm dark creamy Guinness with a head of foam
(4)Ryan M.
The burgers are some of the best in the city of Cincinnati. The drinks are affordable the dress is casual one of the best local spots in Oakley.
(5)Devon C.
I went to the Oakley Pub for dinner. There was a bit of a wait, but we were seated decently fast, around 10-15 minutes. The service was alright. They had a good selection of beer. I had the fish tacos after reading several reviews on Yelp and they were alright, not amazing but still tasty. I think overall the menu is large and there are a lot of options but there was nothing that anybody in our dinner party ordered that was standout. I think the selling point about this place is its outdoor patio which in the spring/summer/fall is a fantastic area to hang out and dine.
(3)William K.
Great bartenders but I won't eat here again for awhile. Had three burgers (what they're known for) in a row that were awful. Not so/so, not just okay but actually awful. I will try the food again at some point but I don't trust that kitchen. I recommend posting up at the downstairs bar or coming in for a great trivia night. Fantastic place for drinking a few beers with friends.
(2)Peter B.
The service was excellent. I wish I remembered the name of the guy who was our server. He did a great job. Me and 8 or 9 others enjoyed lunch on the patio. The guy took our food/drink orders quickly, and delivered everything accurately in a reasonable amount of time. Everyone's food looked great. I had the Black and Blue Burger with their "unique slaw" instead of fries. The Black/burger was great. The Blue, not so much. I love blue cheese and their version of it consisted of a little blue cheese mixed with a lot of creamy sauce. It failed to supply the potent combo of tastes that I love and strong breath afterward that my wife hates. So I suppose she likes the creamy blue cheese just for that reason. I wish it was actual chunks of blue cheese though. There was nothing real unique about the slaw. I'd get fries next time. The slaw tasted exactly like slaw we'd gotten from Trader Joe's. Good, but nothing special. The food's okay, but the service is great. It'll keep me coming back.
(4)Lauren J.
I love this bar. It has perfect pub food and the burgers are to die for. I even opt for their famous cole slaw instead of fries. They can accommodate large groups for happy hours and their outside seating makes it perfect for cool nights or patio dining. They even welcome dogs and provided a water bowl with a slice of lime. Any place that welcomes my pup has a place in my heart.
(4)Marzina R.
Great wings and house made bleu cheese. Monday's are 50¢ wings. Service is nice... Not the best but very nice.
(4)Sean S.
By far the most incompetent and disrespectful individuals invoked in the bar business.
(1)Santeri P.
This is our go-to local place for burgers. It's right down the street from us and you can eat in or carry out. Although we usually get our food carry-out, we sometimes stop in for a beer and burger as well. They have a nice new patio for sitting outside, but I will admit that my favorite place to sit is on the other side where they have seating on the sidewalk. Something about sitting on the sidewalk and drinking beer and eating appeals to me and I love places that offer this option. While the burgers aren't the best in town they are good. I love the option of either fries or slaw as a side. My wife always gets the fries and I always get the slaw. The slaw isn't your ordinary slaw with mayonnaise. It is actually a slaw that I have eaten many times at family functions because my mom makes it. It is made with cabbage, crunchy ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, almonds, and a vinaigrette dressing. It is nice fresh alternative to fries that I love when I am eating a burger. But I will say that they also have nice fat fries that are better than your average fries. We both like the Banana Jack Burger as our favorite because we love banana peppers. I have also eaten the Soul Burger on multiple occasions and it is also real good. The other great sandwich on the menu is the Oakley Fish Fillet sandwich. You can get the fish filet prepared three different ways but we always get blackened. It comes out with a piece of fish so big that it doesn't even fit on the big pieces of bread. I always cut the fillet in half and put half on the sandwich. Then if I'm still hungry I can eat the rest of the fish or take it home for later. I will say that this fish sandwich is probably my favorite fish sandwich in Cincinnati right now. They also have other typical bar foods but I don't ever order anything else. I come here just for the burgers and fish sandwiches (and slaw). It's in an old bank building which gives it some character and the location is in a pretty good spot, basically in Oakley Square.
(3)Karen D.
The Oakley Pub patio is the place to be on a beautiful day! This summer the pub had a monthly Sunday afternoon music series where you were able to hear a variety of local performers. Quick service, I enjoyed a nice gold Guinness served in a frosty mug, which was delicious on a warm summer day!
(4)Kenneth T.
A good spot to host a gathering. Good prices, better food than most. Smoke free for us Kentuckians is always worth the drive across the river.
(5)S W.
Really bad service, really bad food. Reluctant to give it any stars. We asked for silverware to eat our food with and never got it, had to basically set the table ourselves. Some people at our table received their food, others had to wait. Never asked us for refill of drinks, went thirsty. When I talked to manager, she said a large group came in, um, I don't care, we are here too....also music was so loud, we asked them to turn it down and they said they couldn't, and that we just had to deal with it? Really? We were really nice to them, but they catered towards larger group. Would not go back, really, really awful.
(1)Scott M.
What a great place for trivia on Tuesday nights! Typically between 16-20 teams show up each week, which makes for a competitive trivia night and a good atmosphere, except for that one guy that constantly looks over our shoulders and asks what answer we put down on every third question. The same guy gloats when he wins and cries when he loses. Other than him, this place is fun. Gotta get there early for trivia if you want a seat. The basement is a good place to grab a seat at a table or a bar. If you want to watch the game, there's a television wherever you need it and I was surprised to find out that they can get just about any station you need. We were able to get sun coast sports last night to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning, that's pretty obscure. The bartenders are friendly and take care of you. They are very nice and go above and beyond to get what you need. Outside of Tuesday nights I don't come here much. The food is fine, but it's definitely bar food, which you can get at a number of places within walking distance. This is also not the biggest bar in the world, so sometimes you have to take advantage of the basement because there are no other options. If you're the only person in the basement it can be a bit awkward. The best thing about this place has to be THE WHEEL. SPIN THE WHEEL for three bucks and get a shot of roulette! A random shot according to the wheel! Woohoo! It's just one of those fun things they don't have at every bar...so I spin the wheel every time!
(4)Lia V.
I can't really speak much for this place since I didn't drink or eat when I went (just went to hang out with friends for Tuesday Trivia). However, it's a good location and a great atmosphere. Definitely small for how many people show up for trivia, but I guess that makes it fun. There were 19 teams this week. It's definitely your standard pub atmosphere, but maybe a little cleaner feeling. Not AS dark and dirty as your regular pub. Drinks are crazy cheap (always some special going on) and my friends liked their food. Get there early if you want a seat for trivia. It's a fun time. I'll go again :-)
(3)Sam K.
This is one neat little pub. The good options aren't that plentiful but they're pretty good. Me and three friends popped in for dinner. Nachos were massive and loaded with toppings. I enjoyed the special, blackened fish tacos, and my friends enjoyed the burger which was pretty filling and paired with steak fries. The fourth in our party ordered the buffalo chicken wrap which looked good but was, according to her, "a little too saucy." The back porch featured a live band and a cozy atmosphere despite the sub-freezing temperatures outside. Prices are reasonable. The only detractors is that we were seated by the door which let in a blast of cold air each time it opened. Seating in general is rather limited and you could end up waiting awhile if it's a busy evening. The other bit was kind of a pet peeve: they charged me fifty cents when I asked for hot sauce (which I only discovered upon reviewing my bill). Charging for hot sauce is pretty tacky and just kind of lame. But whatever, it's a cool joint. It's go back if I were just looking for a chill afternoon.
(4)Ben N.
Everything I said about Oakley Pub a couple of years ago pretty much still stands. With one big caveat: Oakley Pub's kitchen seems to have forgotten how to cook a hamburger. The last several I've had here, over about an 18-month span, have been pretty badly overcooked and flavorless, and just kind of slapped together. Please note, Oakley Pub: When a customer asks for a burger medium rare in a restaurant that purportedly grills burgers "to your liking," as the menu here says, he or she is usually not talking just to hear the sound of his or her own voice. And please: grill or griddle the bun. Oakley Pub was ranked in the top ten burgers in that silly Top 40 Burgers list in Cincinnati Magazine a couple of years back, but since that time, it appears that the kitchen has decided to rest on these laurels and to send out a parade of well-done hockey pucks in lieu of their formerly delicious burgers. In short, this burger is officially overrated right now. Nonetheless, because everything else on the menu and about Oakley Pub seems to be holding up pretty well--e.g. the grouper sandwich is still good, the reuben is among the best in town, that Asian-style slaw is still ace, and this is still a very agreeable place to have some food and a couple of beers. Another plus: The service seems to have tightened up from what I described in my original review. I still endorse Oakley Pub. Just not their burgers. And if the original review was a like a 4.25, rounded down,consider this update a 3.75, rounded up.
(4)Mark W.
First visit. Good place to have a burger and a beer. Could not deal with one of the guys that is delivering food and also pouring drinks is wearing a shirt with the sleeves totally cut out. Hopefully that won't happen at the New location.
(3)Kent F.
I like this place. The wings were great, slightly crunchy, and not over done. Beer was good and cold and the Saturday special, buffalo sandwich was ready good. The slaw was different... not for me but my wife loved if and she's very picky. When in the neighborhood, I will make it a point to stop back. The service was a+
(4)Megan K.
Great place to hang out in Oakley. Their food is just okay but they have an amazing bloody mary. I go there whenever I am craving one (which is far too often). Very spicy and comes with a beer chaser.
(4)Maureen D.
Met a friend for lunch on Wed the 16th. I had read about the slow service but wasn't worried since we wouldn't be in a hurry. I didn't count on the poor service since our server apparently didn't pick up our order for quite some time. 45 minutes after ordering our two items, the food was delivered cold - not the way I like my burger. What is the point of a toasted bun if it's delivered cold? We'll try across the street at Habits next time.
(2)Don S.
Favorite neighborhood bar/restaurant not fancy. Good servers nice covered outside patio. Priced right
(4)Sam S.
Since the food and drinks were nothing special at all I am giving them 1 star for the terrible service we had. I tried to go here for trivia with a group from work. We got there more than an hour before trivia started and tried to get a table. We couldn't get the attention of any of the servers to get a table and didn't see any spaces open that were big enough for our group. We ended up going downstairs where there were a few tables open and a few tables where the people there were finishing up their meals. We tried to take one of those tables when they opened up and were told that someone had "called" all these tables for their group. We had now been kind of standing around at the bar for almost an hour and this group wasn't even at the restaurant! We almost left but decided to stick it out. Finally a half hour into trivia they let us take one of the empty tables because the group hadn't shown. Overall just really bad service. Food and drinks took a while and like I said nothing special at all. Will not be back and would definitely not recommend, especially for trivia. There are lots of other local bars that do the same one on the same night so we will be going to one of those from now on.
(1)Dax V.
I can only speak to the issues of beer and service here. Went in to check this place out as it's located conveniently to me. My only goals were to check out their beer situation and of course the service and atmosphere. I had seen online and through their advertising that they were into things like hot wings and such, and your basic macro beers, and sports. But then it seems most Cincinnati pubs are. It was a Sunday afternoon. I got a seat at the bar without waiting. A woman behind the bar acknowledged me pretty quickly and courteously. So far so good. I told her I was looking at what beers they had on tap. She was fairly helpful with this and remained there ready to take my order (but then it was not busy in there). Next I did what seems to throw so many servers/beertenders: I asked about price. How much does a pint of beer go for here basically? Why is this question so hard to answer, and why does it seem to annoy most servers? I know I look like a loser asking, but really, roll with it people! She had to ask another guy behind the bar. If I recall, the answer was it varies. So I asked about one beer in particular. She had to ask someone. That person had to actually ring up the beer to get the answer (believe me, this is not the first time I've had an employee of a beer establishment have to ring up a beer in order to tell me how much it would be). I had told her that if it was $5 or less I would get one. The answer came back: $6 per pint. I respectfully said that I would just go elsewhere. She looked taken aback a bit, and at least one bar patron turned to look at me. Okay, I knew what I needed to know. My experience at Oakley Pub & Grill wasn't over yet though. As I opened the door and exited I heard a female voice saying "See Ya!" I can only hope the voice wasn't that of the barkeep. I proceeded to walk to a nearby establishment with a better beer selection and markedly better prices. See ya, Oakley Pub & Grill!
(1)Roth M.
Great little neighborhood corner bar. The patio is now open for outdoor dining and drinking. It's got a cool stone fireplace. Basement is open too. With nightly food and drink specials, this place is fairly busy pretty much 7 nights a week. The Soul Burger was voted #7 Best Burger by Cincinnati Magazine, rightfully so, because it is a damn good sandwich. I would suggest getting the Unique Slaw whenever possible. It isn't like a creamy coleslaw, it is cabbage, but it is sweet and Asian inspired with crispy ramen noodles crushed up in it. I could eat it by the bucket, it is soooo good. The menu consists basically of pub-grub, but it seems to be done to a slightly higher standard. There's wings and pizzas and burgers and quesadillas and fish tacos and Phillys, as well as salads. On top of their daily specials, on Saturdays and Sundays they have the Hangover Specials until 4PM. Breakfast/brunch types of food and I believe Bloody Mary specials. Know your target market, cater to your target market. (edited to add) -If you like/love the Soul Burger, I would suggest getting the Grilled Chicken Club. It is prepared exactly the same way as the burger, only with a juicy chicken boob. Tastes like they use the same spice mix as well.
(4)Mallory T.
I usually love this place because the bartenders are always very friendly, make drinks quickly and the atmosphere is nice. However last night I wanted a mule, the bar didn't have the exact ingredients that I wanted as far as bourbon but that didn't matter much to me. The bad part was the bartender literally threw one shot in the bottom of this tall glass at least 16 oz and then poured ginger beer on top of it. No lemon/lime juice was added in just straight ginger beer on top. It was the worst mule I've ever had and the paying for the beer plus the cost of the "shot" of bourbon was over $10 for a terrible drink. I think that price is reasonable if the drink tastes good but from now on I'll know not to order a mule there and stick to beer.
(2)Ben D.
This place has lots of character! It's definitely a "locals" kind of bar, given its quasi-hidden location just off the square. But it has parking which can be tricky in Oakley. The folks are friendly, the beer is cold, and the steak fries slathered with cheese and bacon bits dipped in ranch are amazing!! Great place for happy hour or a bite to eat, or to watch a game. Don't neglect the patio and the nearly completed 3-season room for more well-lit dining/drinking options. There's also a basement, which oddly, can take even regulars a while to realize. Good weekday drink specials too.
(4)Jessica N.
I was really stuck on going to Bar Louie for dollar burger night on Wednesday nights for awhile. Like, 4 years awhile. Then one night, I realized that I was never only spending a dollar, and I was not even getting a really good burger. I decided to seek out other Wednesday night options and came across Oakley Pub and their Wednesday night Burger Madness. 7 dollars you say? That's outrageous compared to my 1 dollar burger! But wait, I was actually spending 10+ dollars at Bar Louie because I had to pay for individual toppings, order my fries separately and then order 1... or 4 beers. So a few of my friends and I ventured to Oakley Pub and dined on some delicious burgers with interesting toppings and fries included for a worthwhile 7 dollars. Also! Burgers at Oakley Pub are cooked to order; you aren't required to get your burger "well-done" because of food safety hazards. That's a big plus sign for me.
(4)Justin M.
Thanks to the wonderful community that is Yelp I decided to plop into the small building that is Oakley Pub. Be careful though, you may miss it through all of the construction and for the simple fact that the building itself is not all that inviting. Don't judge a book by its cover though, right? That's the saying, and it proves itself all too much here. Oakley pub is what it titles itself as, a pub. It serves pub food, smells of pub stench and has all the normal sightings a small restaurant bar would contain. As me and my girlfriend ventured around the Oakley/ Hyde park area looking for food I tasked her with searching the Yelp app for a decent burger or wing joint to head to for lunch. Oakley Pub crossed the phone screen to rave reviews and we punched it into the GPS and started to head over. The moment we set eye on the building we were a bit skeptical but as I love trying new places, good or bad, we ventured in. And this was also one of the only places in town that let us bring our dog onto the patio (technically not allowed to, but the girl behind the bar said she didn't mind.) After reading some reviews we decided to try a burger, and some wings, both of what we were looking for. The food came very quick and we were eating in no time. We had one of the bartenders as a waitress as it wasn't very busy the day we went in and honestly I don't know if they even had any wait staff on duty at the time. You could tell she wasn't used to waiting but it really wasn't that big of a deal, she was very nice and got us everything we requested. About 10 minutes after we ordered my mouth started to water and I picked up a distinct smell. As I mimicked my dog sniffing into the air I could tell our food was on it's way out the door. A good sign if you can smell your food from 50 feet away. The moment the burger and wings were set down I fell in love with the place. I think I may have even blacked out for a second because let me tell you, the food that was set in front of me are in the Top 5 in their respective categories. The wings and burger that we ate that day are very memorable. The tenderness of the burger was outstanding and the wings were cooked brilliantly. As some of the other reviews mentioned the burger was noticeably seasoned unlike some of the others who leave it to the meat to do the talking. Both ways are fine and get the job done. As always, I scouted out the drink selection and it was where I would want it to be with a good selection and my new favorite Sierra Nevada on the menu. I would have to check out the dinner scene to get a more advanced look at the atmosphere during the busy times but I can imagine that it would be absolutely fine to go here for dinner. I know this because it was more than absolutely fine to go here for lunch. It was outstanding.
(4)Andi B.
Having been several times, I figure it is time to review. Of course, the only food I've had is the burgers and they have been consistently great! The fries are steak and fine but not great, but really it is all about the burger. It is a small place so if you go on a weekend for dinner, be prepared for a wait. Most of the tables are set for four. Halfway through our last visit we did agree to switch to another table so that their party of eight could be accommodated. Having sat at the bar a few times it appears they have a decent selection, but I always choose my old standby. I seem to only make it in the cool months so I've never enjoyed that patio, but they have one and off-street parking. Definitely a good place to meet with friends over burgers and beers!
(4)Katherine M.
I had high hopes for this place. It had great reviews and was excited about the "best burger" designation, although I have learned to take that with a grain of salt. We came at around 12:30 on a Sunday (Bengals game day) to find it not too crowded. The inside of this place is small - the booths are broken and every time the kid behind me moved my seat jolted violently. I chose to sit on one side of the booth with the husband with no other group behind it. The decor is random and kind of felt like a bunch of people went through their basement's and decorated. It's not terrible, but it's just weird. Waitstaff wasn't all too friendly - or attentive. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer and I got the house salad and my husband the burger with wisconsin cheddar and grilled onions. The onion rings came out first, piping hot, and were pretty delicious. They were cooked well and pretty tasty, although I salted them and thought they were missing a bit something, I still really enjoyed them. The burger was nothing special - the Wisconsin cheddar was bland and kind of like American Cheese (I guess it's possible it was just America) and the grilled onions were cold - they also has some sort of weird goo on them. I highly disliked them. The burger itself just didn't stand out - not great meat, not great flavor. I wouldn't order it again. The salad was okay - nothing special - kind of a grocery store bagged taste. Raspberry vinaigrette was terrible. Overall, I don't know if I would go back. Their beer selection included nothing I like, no brewed iced tea, and an off fountain for soda. Nothing I'd be running back for.
(2)Emily S.
Oh, Oakley Pub. I was so excited to try you! Your parking lot seems so full! Everyone loves you! I love a good burger! Why, why, why.... Well, my husband and I dropped in for a later dinner on a weeknight. The place was packed. Then, apparently, we had unknowingly walked into "Trivia Night". Ooops. No points against them for this, it is just hard to carry on a conversation over a loudspeaker asking questions about popular brand cereals, etc. Our waitress was practically nonexistent. I know the place was busy, but we waited a long time for our drinks and food for that matter. We ordered the nachos as an app and I ordered the mushroom burger medium and onion rings for my entree. The nachos were great, wonderful portion. However, all of our food came out at once (huge no no for me! very annoying). And, then, I excitedly bit into my burger. It was horribly over cooked. Like, really bad. And the burger tasted entirely of black pepper and nothing else. Really, Oakley Pub? Saving grace was the onion rings rocked. True story. My husband assures me this was a strange, out of the ordinary experience (his burger was well done, too and sub par) and that we need to try it again on a not-Trivia-night. Overall, the experience was under-extrodinary. Willing to give it another shot, will update my review then. Until then, I will be getting my burger fix at Gordo's!
(2)Ed P.
A couple of weekends ago I arranged for a happy hour with a few friends and my wife at the Oakley Pub & Grill before heading over to the nearby St. Cecilia's church festival. Happy hour specials run from 3-6pm Monday through Friday and feature $2 off appetizers and 50 cents off beer. We arrived shortly after 5pm expecting to find the small space completely packed, but there were only a few tables occupied. We grabbed a table for our group and ordered a couple of rounds of appetizers. First up were the boneless buffalo tenders served with homemade blue cheese dressing. The menu also indicated that there would be celery served with the dish, but we received none. For the happy hour price of $5.95 the tenders were quite a bit of food and were tasty. They weren't drenched in sauce like buffalo wings tend to be, the sauce was cooked into the chicken tender more, which was a little cleaner to eat. Next up, my favorite of our choices, was the basil chicken quesadilla. This quesadilla is a little different from normal with the inclusion of fresh basil and mozzarella cheese, but I found the change refreshing. Plus the standard grilled chicken, tomatoes, salsa, and sour cream are included to give it a little standard flair. During happy hour this dish is only $4.95, which is a deal! I saw a couple orders of nachos being served and those too looked good. We split the appetizers a few ways, so my wife and I were still hungry for a little more food. We decided to split the chicken philly sandwich, which was served with fries for $6.95, which is very reasonable. This sandwich is served with grilled onions, mushrooms, and banana peppers, along with provolone cheese and an olive tapenade. The menu didn't indicate that pickles, tomatoes, and raw onion would be included, but that can easily be removed if not wanted. My wife and I left the fixings on the sandwich, but still found it to be fairly bland. Maybe we should have swapped the mayo that is served on the beef philly in place of the olive tapenade. A friend of ours had the grouper fillet sandwich (sorry no photo) and really enjoyed it. I've read other reviews praising this sandwich, so that should be a safe bet. The burgers are also supposed to be good, but no one in our party tried one. I'd also like to give the pizza a try on a future visit. I'm sure we will be back for this very affordable happy hour if nothing else.
(3)Marianne C.
We were looking for someplace to eat before a show at the Twentieth Century Theatre, and this place was close and highly rated by Yelpers. Made the mistake of going out to a pub on St. Paddy's Day, but left impressed by the quality of service, Guinness, and mushroom swiss burger - just wish I knew they put mayo on it... yuck! The crowd was a mix of Oxford-emigres (aka Miami University students wearing green beer day shirts) and locals. Everyone was well-behaved although I really wondered how one woman had dirty knees. There was a story there that I would never learn.
(4)Adolfo N.
Fat man full!!!! these burgers are tasty, and beefy, exactly what you are looking for in little meat cakes. As a restaurant this place falls short or service (it's a bar, what do you expect?) So do yourself a favor, pull up to the bar, grab a menu, have a drink, and enjoy a very satisfying hamburger.
(4)Matt H.
To preface....I try and find value in every place I go and then talk about it in these reviews. I'm having a really hard time doing that for Oakley Pub. Everyone seems to love this place and I've heard great things. My experience didn't even remotely reflect ANY of those great things. We had a seat and ordered drinks. Then waited 10 minutes to order food and another 35 before we got the food. I can understand that some place DO take a little longer for good food. What sucks is that the food was barely warm, at best, when it finally hit our table. Not once while we waited for our food (or after it came, for that matter) did our server stop by, or ask us if we wanted refills. Nobody asked how the food was after it came. This was some of the worst service I've ever gotten....especially at a local joint. My wife got a burger (not hot) & fries (almost cold) and I got garlic wings (not hot) and cheese fries (almost cold), all of which had obviously been sitting for at least 5-10 minutes. It's sad, because I would have reviewed the food a lot higher and it could have saved the overall experience if everything were fresh. But it wasn't. The only thing keeping me from rating this experience lower is that the first guy that brought us our drinks was really nice and courteous...... We won't be going back.
(2)Linsey G.
I love cheeseburgers. If I were to die tomorrow, I would be sure to gorge myself with as many of them as physically possible. There are many delicious burger joints in the Cincinnati area, and--in my opinion--Oakley Pub's is top 5 material. Not long after I started working on the East side of town, I put out a blast on Twitter to ask where I could find some delicious burgers (Zip's, Terry's and Arthur's not-withstanding, as I had already had--and loved--them, and was looking for something new). A friend suggested that I try Oakley Pub, and I thought I'd try it out even though I had never been there and wasn't super familiar with the area. It was a little hard to find and the construction currently on Madison is a little more for one to handle, but I arrived and couldn't wait to try what I heard was a really great burger. I went on a Wednesday and--as luck would have it--I saw a sign out front indicating that it was Burger Mania, a special in which you get a burger fully dressed with fries for $6. I sat at the bar, where I could easily see and hear ESPN on the flat screen TVs. The servers were friendly, and it is obvious they deal with a lot of regulars. Unfamiliar with the Burger Mania phenomenon, I stuck to a pretty basic set-up: burger cooked medium with american, provolone, lettuce, onion and a side of mayo. (Side note: I like my burgers with cheese and sometimes other things as mentioned in my order. Yes, a burger connoisseur can eat plain-ish burgers because--in my opinion--it's all about the taste of the meat, not about how much junk you can fit in between two buns.) I got my burger, and it was really, really great. It was cooked perfectly, the burger to bun ratio was on par, and the provolone/american cheese combo was stellar. The fries are good, but not outstanding, as steak fries aren't my favorite. The atmosphere is your standard pub: comfortable, laid back and a great place to socialize with friends or to sit by yourself to enjoy a burger while watching ESPN.
(4)Scott S.
Awesome local bar. Owner is making a lot of improvements too, including a great patio. New basement also. One of my most frequented when I'm in cincy.
(5)Niamh O.
How have I not reviewed the OPG? Goodness. I really love this place. It's unpretentious, local, friendly, good for a quick meal or for setting up shop at the bar for a few hours. The food is really good. I'm a huge fan of the Asian slaw that comes with the burgers (Don't worry--you can get fries, too). The beer specials are pretty decent, and who can complain about $1.75 PBR? It's a fun place to watch a game, too, and one of my favorite spots during March Madness. If I had to complain, it would be that sometimes their mixed drinks run pricey. But, like I said, with $1.75 PBR, there's really not much to whine about. I'm an Oakleyite, and this is absolutely the best bar in Oakley. Always fun, and the bartenders are fabulously friendly. Go in. Stay a while. You'll like it.
(4)Lizbeth T.
In a neighborhood with several good bar and grill options, Oakley Pub has managed to carve out its own spot with really great pub food and good service. The burgers are great, blackened fish sandwiches are tasty, and the asian slaw *(fresh and crunchy) is so good I'm sometimes able to convince myself to substitute for fries. Otherwise, it's your typical neighborhood pub, with several tvs tuned to at least 2 or 3 different games. The smaller size gives it an intimate feel, but I've never waited more than 10 or 15 minutes for a table.
(4)Tommy P.
Pub = tavern = saloon. Somehow, I must not look important enough when I sat at the bar when obviously the lady at the bar area was organizing her glass without saying anything. Don't think they sell food after 10 pm when I had asked if the kitchen was open. I had thought that this place had food to serve but really no one asked if I wanted the menu. The counter at the bar was a full blown copper tone (pretty sure that its real). I'll say it was decent for my experience, but would only suggest if you like drinking and hanging around the bar, hardcore style.
(2)Courtney S.
This is my week for trying things I should have tried by now lol. I went to Oakley Pub with my friend, because he is on the Burger Quest, and I am tagging along to document it lol. Wednesdays are Burger Mania where you get a burger plus five toppings for six bucks. My friend got a burher with grilled onions, mushrooms, jerk seasonings, mayo and ketchup. It came with fries so I ate that (for free haha). The burger was THICK. He never waits for me to get my camera before he chomps in, so the pic I am posting, he has already made his marklol. He said the burger was BETTER than Terry's! He said it was cooked better, seasoned better and more flavorful! I ate the fries, they were ok, just a tad over cooked. They were steak fries and I do like them, but they weren't the best. All in all he said it wak good, and I'm glad I got the free fries :-)
(4)Michelle R.
If you want a burger, come here! yum! On Wednesday they do burger night where any toppings you like for $7. the onion rings are great, and i have had the chicken sandwich with siracha mayo and bacon more times than I like to admit. Great staff and good price on drinks.
(4)Rachael G.
I'm somewhat bias towards OPG (Oakley Pub and Grill) due to it's proximity to my house. That being said, I do enjoy coming here pretty much for anything: Sunday brunch (bottomless mimosas, 'nuff said), football games, late dinner, etc. I always seem to get the fish tacos, but their burgers are great too. Now,with a finished bar in the basement and 2 patios, I can come here no matter what sort of a mood I'm in.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Everybody needs a "we could always just there" bar and this is that place to me. Easy to get to from my house, good craft beers, good burgers, laid back crowd, parking lot, friendly bartenders, great jukebox. What more can I say? I love this place. Also, bonus outdoor patio during the warmer months.
(5)Steve H.
Updated by adding a basement and most recently a patio. Numerous burgers to choose from which are made with fresh meat. The cole slaw with Raman noodles is an excellent side vs the run of the mill steak fries. Glad they have expanded to accomodate the always busy Pub.
(4)N M.
Small, comfortable pub in the heart of Oakley square area. I liked it ... we had the wings and burgers, both were great. I have heard many good things about the burgers in the area (Arthurs, Zips and the Oakley Pub) ... but I have to say Oakley Pub is my favorite. More of a seasoned burger than the other two locations ... even thought they didnt get the temperature right on anyone's burger. No matter what anyone ordered they came out well done (but were still great). Small, but nice patio section as well.
(4)Sarah T.
The Pub is a great mix of sports bar and casual hangout. It has plenty going on but spares visitors of obnoxious, loud sports fans. I've never had the food because the kitchen is always closed by the time I arrive after a night at work. The bartenders are personable and the patio is nice. Can't wait for summer with the new outdoor fireplace!
(4)Seb R.
Small neighborhood place. Very small. Built to be more of a hole in the wall kind of bar, but it can get very crowded pretty quickly (at best only suitable to hold 30-40 people comfortably). They have jam-packed many tables and it can make you feel very cramped. The food selection isn't too bad if you want a burger and fries, perhaps even a fish or chicken sandwich. But there is nothing spectacular about the burgers. Its not like eating at Quatman or Terry's. From what I recall, the service was fairly decent and I kind of felt bad for them since it seemed like they were constantly on the go in that tiny establishment. The one major downside I find with this place is the beer/liquor selection and prices. Drinking at the Oakley Pub can get kind of pricey, even if its just a beer or two with your burger and fries. Overall, not a bad little place to try if you are in the neighborhood. Just nothing to get too excited about.
(2)Jessalynn S.
Oakley Pub and Grill makes a mean hamburger. The best time to go is on Wednesday when they do their burger special, and you can "build your own" burger with 5-6 toppings for $6. The burgers are quite tasty and I'm a big fan of their steak fries (although I tend to prefer this kind of fry in general). My biggest complaint with the place is the set up. It's a small bar to begin with, and with too many tables crammed into it, it makes me feel claustrophobic most times I'm there when it's busy. And it's usually busy, especially on weekends and for burger and trivia nights. If you're craving a burger, this is a good solid option. If you're a big fan of elbow room, though, this might not be the joint for you.
(3)Josie P.
Have eaten here multiple times and usually it is good, but I guess we learned the hard way to check your to- go order before walking out the door. Ordered two cheese burgers plain with fries... only to open them at home and find two burgers fully dressed with mayonnaise, pickles, onions and lettuce. Sorry, but lettuce is the only easy item to remove. The rest kind of ruins the burger if you're not a fan. Simple order... really screwed up.
(2)Jessica S.
We love Oakley Pub because it's our place where "everyone knows your name". We live nearby & enjoy popping in for a beer & often a late-night snack. Their burgers aren't our favorite in Cincinnati but they're certainly worth it. We usually go for the Zola burger w/ fries & a side of slaw & then split it. The bartenders now just have the kitchen cut it in half for us, which is nice. The slaw is awesome! It's unique & since we don't usually care for a creamy coleslaw, the tangy asian-y-ness of OPG's slaw hits the mark. The new patio is great & we have enjoyed a game of cornhole near the fireplace on the recent brisk fall evenings. The only reason I don't give OPG five stars is because the burgers often don't come out at the ordered temp.... we go medium/medium-rare & most often it's medium-well.... though, they still taste good so it's not the end of the world. I have never been here to have a "sit-down dinner" so I can't really comment of the service of the wait-staff... To me, this place is a bar with food as opposed to a restaurant with a bar. Drinks are usually the m.o. & they just happen to have a yummy menu. :)
(4)Dan M.
Had a burger here. It was allright. There are a lot of burgers in Cincinnati. The waitress was terrible. Bottom Line: I'd go back, but I wouldn't seek it out.
(3)Heather J.
It's a great bar spot in Oakley...very comfortable and fun. That wrap was delightful! The atmosphere is cute and fun - can be a little tight if it's packed. The wait staff is always fun (and pretty cute). The price is very fair and comparable to Habits, Arthurs, etc... The pizza is sooooooooo cheesy! It's very simple and tasty - but if you like cheese - GET THE PIZZA! The burgers are good as well...really haven't had anything bad there! All sandwiches, etc... are approx $10. OPG: 3 stars from the Food Hussy
(4)Eric M.
A good local hangout with a good amount of TVs. I wish that they had a few more craft beer selections but what they have is pretty good. Didn't try the food but it looked like normal pub food. They do have bottomless mimosas on Sundays which can be a good deal if you're into that stuff. It's in a good location but kind of small. They have an outdoor patio in the back which has a lot more room with TVs. A solid choice to meet some locals in the Oakley Sq area.
(4)Eleni K.
Decent Bar food and the patio is awesome!
(4)Damon D.
We spent a lot of time reading reviews for the best burger in town. My wife and I settled on trying Oakley Pub. When we arrived the restaurant was full and we were seated fairly quickly, however, that was the highlight of the evening. We waited almost 10 minutes before someone brought us a menu. We learned that several of the drink choices, listed on the menu, were out, so at this point we ordered our meals and drinks. I received my drink but the server forgot about my wife's and went off to get it. After 5-10 minutes we asked about her drink and the server realized she forgot about it and went back to get it. Finally the burgers arrived and this is what we came for. We ordered the Black and Blue prepared medium-well. Both burgers were incredibly rare and the fries were cold. They had to be sent back to the kitchen to be re-cooked. Unfortunately we left we a poor experience and would not recommend visiting this restaurant. Once the food order was corrected the burger was good at best but not amazing. Sorry Oakley Pub but you are going to have to do better for a couple who paid for a sitter so we could visit your restaurant.
(1)Jordan M.
Oakley Pub is one the best in the area, complete with both indoor and outdoor bars and dining areas, as well as basement area. This pub has a relaxed vibe and attracts a wide variety of visitors. The quality is great as well as the prices, and has been reliably a good time.
(4)Chelsea V.
Great service, cozy atmosphere and a cute lighted porch! This pub is adorably placed on the corner of Madison and Isabelle in, I guess it's obvious - Oakley. After washing my laundry conveniently across the street and after persuasion from my man, I visited this quaint corner pub. We were greeted with a smile and the service was tip top. The food menu speaks to a bar atmosphere - burgers, Phillie's, loaded french fries, wings, but then...fish tacos and stuffed portabellas? Not having a stomach big enough for all of this mouth watering goodness, I opted for a Philly. The steak fries where great and the bar accommodated every body's drink needs (even a pitcher of cranberry juice for an el preggo;)...). I have to admit, the Guinness pours were superb. My accomplice being a Guinness ONLY drinker, we have encounter a many too frothies, or watered downs, but these were right on target. Beautiful pours, great service, and a nice atmosphere.
(4)Will H.
This is a bar, it is a small bar, it is a crowded bar, it is a good bar. We went here on our burger tour based on the cincinnati magazine article "The 40 Best Burgers in the Queen City." We had to order our burger at the bar because there was not room at any tables for us. They have good drink specials and the specials during the week are good too. Their staff is friendly, but I feel like they could use a hand or two helping them out on a saturday night, it took a long time to get served. We ordered the Soul Burger with Onion Rings here. The bun was extra sweet and I have few details on what was on/in the burger since we never saw a menu. But there was something on this burger or in the meat that was just absolutely fabulous! It was amazing and the texture of the meat was really fine. The onion rings were hot, crisp and the onions stayed with the outer batter... they were some of the best onion rings I've ever had. Really amazing.
(4)Alex N.
I like the look of this place on the inside, and I don't mind how small it is until it's extremely crowded. I ordered the Hawaiian burger and it was solid. The best part about the burger was that it was cooked the way I asked it to be cooked, which seems pretty uncommon in places like this. I was pleasantly surprised when I bit into it and discovered that it was indeed medium rare. The worst problem with the burger? I bit into some kind of plastic...thing. I think it was whatever the cook was using to check the temperature of the burger. Not cool. While the burger was good, the toppings were okay. The bacon was kind of flimsy and the pineapple was most likely taken out of a can and "grilled" for a few seconds, and it tasted a little odd. I liked the bun, and the sriracha mayo was a great touch. The coleslaw was decent, but I would have liked it more if it was made with a creamy dressing. I kinda wish I had gone with the fries, which looked good. The service was good, and I liked the food, except for the plastic piece that ended up in my burger. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I'd go again.
(3)William D.
Regardless of what you read on here, if you go to OPG you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't get the fried grouper on rye with slaw. Hands down the best fish sandwich in the Queen City. Their slaw alone is worth a trip. Very unique, fresh, plentiful, and delicious. Their burgers are good too but their fish sandwich is the signature menu item in my opinion.
(4)Dan J.
I ended up at Oakley Pub & Grill because I got lost on the way to dinner and my wife finally just wanted to eat somewhere. We parked and walked around for a bit before we spotted the pub and headed over. It's a nice little bar: smoke free, showing the game to what appeared to be a crowd of regulars. The food was kind of surprising. I ordered a house salad with my dinner for only an additional $1.50, and it was exceptional for a side salad, from a bar or otherwise: romaine lettuce, feta cheese, raisins, tomatoes, carrots, and sunflower seeds. Contrast that with other side salads I've ordered consisting of little more than iceburg lettuce and old tomatoes. My wife was also surprised by the "unique slaw", an Asian style coleslaw complete with crunchy ramen noodles.
(5)Diem W.
I am consistently wowed by the quality and taste of the food at Oakley Pub and Grill. I live in the Oakley area, and it is my favorite restaurant within miles (actually, I think it's the best food I've had in what is primarily a bar setting). I take my family there at least once a week. The price is right, the atmosphere is laid back, and the staff is very friendly. Their daily specials (food and drink) are fantastic, as are their homemade soups. I recommend the wings (try the hot garlic), the veggie wrap, burgers, and salads. I think you can tell a lot about a restaurant by the quality of their side salads -- order one...you will be impressed (though I'm not much of a fan of their house dressing - sweet vinaigrette - try balsalmic if you're not into fruity dressings). My wife loves the seafood items (grouper sandwich and tacos). I hear they have a good Trivia Night on Tuesdays at 8pm, but I've yet to check it out. Go check this place out!
(4)Bridgette M.
The place has never disappointed me. I love the food, service, decor...even the restroom. You must try the fish tacos with a side of slaw. Soo yummy!
(5)Jason B.
I've only been to Oakley Pub once, and that was to kick-back and decompress with a couple of friends after a long day at work. We didn't order any food, just had some beers to relax. Making our way through the interior (which looks like any other bar), we headed over to the patio and sat at one of the tables. This allowed us to drink, enjoy the fresh air, bask in the cool breeze that warded off the summer heat, and sneak the occasional cigarette as we enjoyed our beer (can't do that inside anymore because of the smoking ban in Ohio). We were there for a few hours. It was a great, easy-going place that allowed us to relax, enjoy each other's company, gripe about our jobs and bosses, and get to know each other more. Our waiter was really great (attentive, but never intrusive) and the costs of the price of beer was great! I've heard the food is good, so I'll need to go back and give that a try. As it stands, my limited exposure to Oakley Pub was a good one, and I'd readily recommend it. Mahalo, and enjoy.
(5)James G.
Would have given this place 5 stars, but found myself chewing on a bone half way through my burger on Burger Mania Wednesday :) Outside of that, it was actually pretty damn good! Try the cole slaw as your side. Definitely a signature side dish you will find at none other than Oakley's. 2 Words for ya, Ramen Noodles! Good selection of beers,nice outdoor patio, staff was laid back, friendly and cool. Will defintely visit again on my next trip back to Cinci.
(4)Mary Beth B.
The Oakley Pub is one of my favorite places to go. The atmosphere is great with a small town bar feel. The service is attentive and their beer selection is decent, too. I LOVE their burgers, may rate as one of the best in the NKY/Cincy area for me. I have never ordered anything off the menu that I didn't like. When my husband and I are in the area and we want to go to a restaurant where we know everything will be tip-top... we pick the Oakley Pub!
(4)Joe J.
Good consistent food. Stay away from the quesadillas, but everything else is fair game. Blackened fish tacos are great, just make sure to order some fresh limes on the side. Have to say that the burgers here are in the top 5 in Cincinnati and not to be passed up. Burger madness is on Wednesdays. This plus a beer on drink special is a great low-budg meal.
(4)Peter B.
The Oakley Pub & Grill touts "Best Burger in Cincinnati 2007." What a difference 4 years makes! I ordered the burger medium-rare, it came medium-well. The onion rings looked like they were straight out of the freezer bag. Nothing special here. Take my advice and drive the extra 10 minutes to the Turf Club!
(2)rusty r.
Every day of the week, a special. If you're cutting your expenses in these times, but still want to get out of the house... this is your place. Specials on food and drinks.... every day. For instance, burger wednesdays for $6... up to 5 toppings. The Asian slaw that it came with was surprisingly fantastic. And, it's a local little place, definitely worth supporting. 3 stars.
(3)Benjamin B.
Cool bar, solid burger although I wish the pineapples on my hawaiian had a bit more flavor. I didn't drink but it looked like they had a good beer selection. Service is pretty good too. I'll return.
(4)Tim E.
Great Quality Pub Food. Fish Tacos and Ruben are stand outs. Also good spin on burgers and their traditional Wings are best around.
(4)Zack C.
The Oakley Pub is a great choice for a casual feast of burgers and beer. I've been a patron of Zip's and Arthur's -- both Cincinnati institutions -- for many years and am so impressed with the quality of food and the ambiance of the Oakley Pub that I have worked it into my Cincinnati burger rotation. It is a real up and coming hangout with a great neighborhood feel. If you want to give their burgers a try, make sure to go on a Wednesday to get their $6 deal. I almost always get the "Memphis" which has BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese.
(4)Ryan H.
I'm always a big fan of a Pub... any kind of Pub, because it means I can always get a draft beer. Great place for lunch... you can get an excellent burger at a good price. Get the Soul Burger or the Southwestern Burger... both were effin' good. Their Happy Hour is pretty WEAK... $.50 of Beer and Wine, that's sorry... :( at least make an even $1.00
(4)Rebecca J.
I usually go to have some drinks with the girls and like the laid back scene and friendly staff. I did have a reuben there and I was pleasantly surprised because it was so good. Pub food done well.
(4)Liz A.
i met up with avani and lauren at oakley pub & grill to plan our first cincinnati imports event... which, coincidentally, will be held at oakley pub & grill! funny how that works. i have eaten here a number of times and just never write about it. normally i order a burger there. their burgers are really tasty. they put some spices into the meat. now it's no terry's, don't kid yourself, but it's a respectable bar burger. i always get the slaw instead of fries because i love it. cabbage, ramen noodles, and a sweet and savory dressing... sooo good and crunchy. this time i decided to branch out with my entree and gave the reuben a shot. ever since courtyard stopped making theirs last spring (which i still bitch about every time i go there... they are starting to hate me), i have not found a really amazing reuben in this city. well readers, i am happy to say that oakley pub & grill has a damn good reuben. tasty corned beef, melty cheese, and very well grilled. mmmm... i am sure there are a lot of izzy's fans out there, and while i like izzy's as much as the next food blogger, i am not a rabid fan. my problems with izzy's: * the meat is too fatty (i know you can order the lean but i always forget) * the bread is not grilled * at certain izzy's locations (7th and elm, i'm looking at you) they do not put thousand island dressing on the sammie. unforgivable! that being said, i do like izzy's, it's just not a life altering gustatory experience for me the way courtyard's was. but back to oakley pub & grill. the reuben is good, the slaw is good, the burgers are good. oh yeah and avani also shared some wings and they were delicious. we got hot sauce and it was nice and spicy and the wings were crispy, juicy, and not greasy. really good. avani got a mushroom burger sans bun (she is doing low carb week) and they were happy to oblige. lauren, who does not eat meat other than fish, got the portobello appetizer stuffed with crab. she said it was really good. she also got fries and ate them up. oakley pub and grill is a slightly above average neighborhood bar with slightly above average food. one thing that is great is that they are really friendly. our server answered all our questions (many of them not food related) and the owner came out and chatted with us. another awesome thing about this bar is that they have food and drink specials every night. on wednesdays a burger with up to five toppings and either fries or slaw is $6, on mondays wings are $0.40 each, etc. if you are in the neighborhood, you should definitely hit them up.
(4)Rise G.
Ahh...small little restaurant / bar with the great wings! How I do miss your wings. I haven't been able to find any as good as yours on the left coast. And the burgers....Sean is correct - they do have some of the best burgers in town. Also check out their sister restaurants / bars for some good food if you are in their area - 915 in Ft Thomas and Zola in Covington. yum!
(4)Sean B.
Yes, Zips has good burgers. Arthur's does, too. But often overlooked is the Oakley Pub on the corner of Isabella and Madison. Serving up a 1/2 lb of angus beef with fries or slaw, Oakley knows what they are doing with their meat. Try the Banana Jack Burger (banana peppers and jack cheese).
(4)krissy r.
i have only been here for drinks, but i very much enjoyed my three olives blueberry vodka and sprite. friendly atmosphere. i'd like to give it a try for dinner sometime.
(3)