I've been eating here for over 25 years. This is an old school diner with outstanding food. I love the bean soup. Best and only goetta omelet worth a damn in greater Cincinnati. Smells of smoke but I've accepted that for decades. Still 5 stars from me. read more

One extra star for the perfectly cooked Glier's goetta! Ah, the Anchor Grill! It's been ages since I was here for that late night breakfast run. One bite of their perfectly cooked goetta brings me right back! It is cut a bit thicker than most goetta I've had; seared crispy on both side but still keeping the middle moist and chewy. And I never thought I cared about where the goetta comes from until now--Glier's is the winner. And please Yelpers, don't complain about the Anchor's lack of ambiance; ugly brown paneling; dilapidated ceiling or lingering smell of cigarette smoke from the front bar. If any of these bother you, then you don't belong in the Anchor Grill. Sit down, learn to appreciate goetta and bask in the eternal glow of the Anchor Grill. read more

If you're looking for a quick bite to eat or breakfast this is good. Still has the original decor from when it first opened. Unfortunately not smoke free though. The great customer service made up for this. read more

The service was exceptional and I enjoyed the small diner decor and menu. A great reminder of simpler times when people actually met, talked and enjoyed some good food. I visited from CA and glad that I stopped here since this establishment has been in business approaching 78 years. read more

Wife asked us to come here. Late dinner. 9:30 pm. She ate here as a child. First appearance is kind of old time diner. Several ocean, lighthouses and boat figurines but yet to see an anchor anywhere. We have been inhaling second hand smoke since we entered with the culprit sitting directly next to a no smoking sign. The food took an extremely long time to come out. Wife had omelet. She says it was great. Dtr has chili spaghetti and was good as well. Son had chicken fingers and hash browns, hard to mess that up. I had a double decker cheeseburger which was average. Onion rings were awesome. Food overall was good but not worth $47 for four plates and drinks for a diner. They are open all year, 24/7 with exception of Christmas. Hostess and waitress are mediocre friendly at best. They seemed to be physically tired and seemed to rather be somewhere else. Time to leave so I may get some fresh air in my lungs. read more

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Anchor is one most friendly and trusted, my whole family and my extended family LOVE this place! If you have the chance, Have the band play! Over thirty years and still counting! read more

Went in Wednesday morning 4/17. Took insulin before I went in so I needed to ear quick. She walked and talked for 15 minutes. Providing a cup of coffee her and there and bringing out a few plates. Then waited another 3 to 5 minutes while she talked to 2 regulars and showing pics on her phone. Food finally comes I am starving and sugar is dropping. She said an extra pancake was on the plate. I said I'm diabetic and don't want it. She got smart and said in a loud voice you don't have to eat it. That was the last straw. With out taking a bit I said how much is it and headed for the door. She wanted me out and said don't worry about it just go. She should not be doing that job. It totally suckedt read more

Haven't had this place in years. Stopped in for lunch and it was just as I remembered. The service was great and the breakfast sandwich was delicious. Make sure to try the hash browns!! read more

The best white bean soup I have ever had.. the GLT is awesome and worth a go. The only down side is service is very slow but the staff is very nice and I will keep coming back read more

Everything is good, for a mom and pop diner it has a certain charm. The service is personable and the food is consistently above average, never had a bad meal here and if I had a better workout regiment I would come back more often. Regardless, a real good breakfast lunch and dinner if you love classic American eats read more

Good food and great prices. Right across the street from the goetta plant so you know they must have some fresh goetta. Problem is..... If you stop in for dinner by the time you get your food it will be time for breakfast 2 days later. I think it's great that the late night cook has been a part of this establishment for as long as she has but generations have changed and waiting an hour and 45 minutes for a steak hagie and fries is unacceptable. Not to mention having the cook chastise me for wanting to add a ribeye sandwich to my order. Bottom line is I cancekked my order since it still had not been put on a grill and respectfully left the establishment knowing that I will never come back in there they wasted 2 hours of my time for a sandwich that I never received get a new cook someone whocan handle the rush of people otherwise your business will end up failing here pretty soon read more

A slice of Cincinnati area history. We had breakfast here because I wanted one more order of goetta before I left there area. Their goetta and cheese omelette was delicious. My son was a little disappointed with his breakfast wrap. The coin operated Band-Box is one of 11 left in the country. The cash only policy is not a problem because the prices are reasonable. read more

Anchor Grill - One of 11 left in the country - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

This place gets five stars for different reasons than other places that might get five stars! Come here for old school, mom and pops, legit greasy spoon vibes. This is like going your very American grandmas house, and she thinks you're too skinny so she wants to fatten you up. My absolute favorite combo to get here is the goetta and cheese omelette and the shredded hash browns with cheese and onions. So salty and greasy and perfect. You also must take part in the juke box experience. Classic country tunes are available; and when a song starts, watch for the "band" in the upper corner of the dining room to start playing! This place is a must-experience, if you live in the Cincinnati/NKY region read more

Anchor Grill - Got the juke box going! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I didn't know what to expect walking in this place. We came for breakfast on a Thursday morning and I will have to say I was pretty impressed. We ordered the french toast with pecans, the anchor classic goetta omelette, the hash browns with gravy, and the homefries. Their goetta omelette was the best dish. Its creamy, cheesy, and not too eggy--just how I like my omelettes. The goetta is surprisingly delicious. They also seriously know how to prepare potatoes here. I loved their homefries. They were crispy, cut right, and delicious. The hash browns were pretty good too. The gravy was a great topper. Lastly, the french toast was pretty standard, but the pecans set it over the top. Overall, great prices and a great place if you don't mind the heavy smell of smoke read more

My husband and I have been coming here for 15 years and feel at home at this cash-only diner. A little dark, a little smoky (not from cigarettes, just from good grill cooking) and a whole lot of intimate. The atmosphere is back in time with the weight of history. Personal push button jukeboxes mounted at every table (nonworking but authentic) and river city paraphernalia easily layered on the walls without being cluttered round out the experience. Brought my son here today and he ordered French toast. He took one bite, nodded his head appreciatively and said "I can taste the grill". We approve. read more

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I just got a "Just a Note" from Scott E. (or Dweasel Z.), who apparently hails from Kentucky... (apologies for the cut and paste) "Its not cool to poke fun at anothers upbringing. Do you elitest snobs from Calif*ckyou really think your better than us in KY. Let me tell you, I lived in L.A. The most uneducated, (and yes I said uneducated, I went to college, I bet thats suprising to you, since I'm from KY.) egotistical, zeros on the planet reside in your dirty state. Do me a favor, stay there. We dont want you here." I'd just like to apologize to Scott (as I already did in a "compliment") and hope that he understands that I was NOT trying to make fun of his upbringing. In fact, I loved my visit to Kentucky. People have different experiences, and they express them differently. I did not intend to insult him or anyone else with what I wrote about my trip to the Anchor Grill. Having heard millions of insults about "Calif*ckyou" before, I understand the irritation he must feel towards people who make assumptions and generalizations about a place he obviously loves so dearly. However, I take each criticism with a grain of salt. Just because someone hates Los Angeles or San Francisco doesn't make the entire state of "Calif*ckyou" a wash. The same goes for Kentucky and every state in the U.S. In fact, I was trying (apparently, not well) to express my own ignorance about Kentucky and my own pre-conceived notions about the state. Anchor Grill won me over, in its own, very unique, odd way. I regret having pissed off anyone to the point where they felt the need to send a "compliment" to let me know how they felt. My sincere apologies, Scott. And good luck with "complimenting" the other reviewers that might say things you don't agree with, too. Oh, and I'm upping my star rating, out of sheer guilt and shame. FYI: This is why I hate "Just a Note" compliments. read more

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BEST OLD-TIMEY DINER ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH!!! I'll tells yeh why: 1) 'We May Doze, But Never Close' is their neon motto in the front winda. (truth in advertising) 2) Gotta get a Goetta. Best Goetta in the tri-state area. Best drunk food evah! If the gods drank 75 cent cans of Weidemann's and moshed, this would be their ambrosia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goetta 3) Wonderful nautical-themed decor, in constant accumulatory flux since 1946. More "Hey, sailor..." than 80s Ralph Lauren ad. Hey, the Ohio River is less than a mile away. That mermaid coulda swam there...Nah, she'd have ended up in a Po' Boy. 4) Magnificent Improvisational Theater from the regulars and curious alike. One night the place is rockin' 'Okie from Muskogee' and some lady in a booth throws her coffee cup at the waitress, who doesn't even react, except to nonchalantly place the check on the table on her way to ours. Another night, a dramatic relationship 'talk' worthy of Telemundo wafts over another couple passed out in the adjacent booth. The waitress refills their coffee and wakes them by stirring it with a spoon. She's like the mom who knows her kids are bad, but still loves 'em, BLESS HER HEART. 5) The piece-de-resistance resides in the NW corner of the dining room. High above the fray (serious fray) is a beautiful curved glass stage with puppets that play to whatever music you selected in your table-side juke console. Whether it's Patsy Cline (most popular), Aerosmith (nearly as much) or George & Tammy (the real first couple), the band never misses a beat. Over the years, replacement parts must have been out of stock, cause there are sleek, Big Band style figures jamming with Hillbilly Jugband members and a couple Barbies rigged up with makeshift tamborines. A torch light sprouts from the center table, reflecting light off a mirror-cone, making the experience extra fancy, like the ketchup. No trip, layover, or sentencing in Greater Cincinnati is complete without a visit to the Anchor Grill. Your grandkids will thank you for the story. read more

Admittedly, I'm really boring when I go out for breakfast. I get pretty much the exact same thing every time if it's available and nothing else is notable (hash browns/home fries, two eggs over medium - which almost no one knows how to do, bacon, a side of biscuits and gravy if I'm starved). Anchor has all that stuff done well (but for the egg clause mentioned above), including yummy biscuits and gravy. My best girl Kathy A wound up with the goetta and cheese omelet, which is the exact reason we traveled over the river to Kentucky to go there. It's a diner in the truest sense. Counter seating, lifer waitresss, regulars, watery coffee, ashtrays on the tables and dark insides. It also has charm though, even if the bathroom door doesn't lock... They only take cash, and if you hit it on a good day and the thing is working, put a quarter in your tabletop jukebox, wait for the lights to dim and see if the little mechanical band starts to play your song up in the corner. read more

Anchor Grill - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Total dive but decent for breakfast. Hubby wanted Goetta and this fit the bill. The ambiance is early greasy spoon with a nod to the sea and nautical items. Neat little place albeit a tad grungy. There were regulars around the counter. There's an interesting little animatronic band that has instrumentalists move to the juke box tunes. (Someone added a Barbie.) In addition to the counter area, there are two dining areas with booths and tables. The food was decent. A little expensive. The goetta was nice and crispy. Hubby and I got the goetta and cheese omelets. Yum for the goetta. The rest was just average. I can usually tolerate greasy spoon dives. However, this place still allows smoking and the smell of the cigarettes overpowered the food and it was just a great big, huge freaking loss. I could tell how good that omelet could be but the smoke was so thick it tasted like the omelet was swirled through an ashtray before being served. A total bummer. It's the reason this is only two stars. Totally ruined the experience. NOTE: CASH ONLY. read more

Not my typical breakfast spot choice, but I must say it was definitely an experience. The Anchor Grill has been around since the 1940s and by the look of it not much has changed :). I went this past Sunday with 6 others around 10am and all tables were full. There was one person cooking/on grill therefore our food did take a bit. Our waitress was sweet as pie and told us shes a nurse full time, started working there when she was 12, and to this day on call and willing to come in and help as needed. The food was as expected. Overall it was pretty good and I really enjoyed the goetta. Can't say I'll for sure be back but glad we went at least once! read more

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The Anchor Grill is one of the best diners on the NKY side of the river, hands down. The atmosphere and decor aren't the cleanest, but that makes the experience all the more relaxed and authentic. The best part decor wise is the infamous sign reading "we may doze but we never close." The standard breakfast options are phenomenal. I recommend the Goetta & Cheese Omelet. The service is friendly and fast. Overall a great tradition breakfast spot and a family favorite. If you're looking for a frou frou brunch, however, you might want to check out other options. read more

Anchor Grill - Sunny Side Up + Homefries + Goetta + Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

"They may doze, but they never close." I LOVE Anchor. It's adorable. Vintage, retro throwback diner with a pinball machine. The staff are always super friendly, even through handling some of the biggest jerks that come in drunk (which I can imagine is pretttty difficult). Anyways, it's conveniently at the top of Mainstrasse Village, so it's popular for a midnight snack after the bars. It's a diner, they serve a variety of breakfast foods, sandwiches, and goetta. The only downside is I believe it's cash only, but they have an ATM. I've never had a bad experience here & the food is always great. Play a song while you're there. read more

Anchor Grill - Early dinner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Let me start by saying I love goetta. Covington has an annual Goetta festival every year where it is put in everything, but the Goetta Lettuce Tomato (GLT) sandwich made here at the Anchor grill is my favorite. It's worth the experience if you've never had it and if you already like Goetta, you'll love the GLT. I came back again to try the goetta and cheese omelette served 24/7. I got it with rye toast and whole wheat toast and made a breakfast sandwich. Not crazy about the cheese, but it's still really good. I added a tomato slice to it and realized I was kinda making my own GLT. Get the GLT! read more

Anchor Grill - Goetta omelette with rye and whole wheat toast. Add a tomato and your good to go! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

This place is incredible. The portions are enormous, everything is homemade, and it's at McDonald's prices. Even the mashed potatoes are homemade, that's something you almost never see. The place is cash only which may be a drawback for some. But the food makes it all worth it. The waitresses are sweet and the service can be a little slow at times but there are never a lot of people working at once. There are different dinner specials every day along with sides. Again, all homemade foods for usually less than $8 for your entree, and 2 sides. Save room for the peanut butter pie, it's out of this world. And if you manage to find yourself in the area in the wee hours of the morning, this place is quite the treat around 2-3am. read more

Anchor Grill - Their award winning peanut butter pie. Don't be put off by the looks. This is by far the best pie I've ever had. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Found this gem while out driving. Heard from others for years that it was the spot to go to. Hubby and I shared an anchor burger, Goetta omelet and home fries. Everything was super fresh, cheap and delicious. If you like fancy, this is not your place. If you like little dive restaurants, you will love Anchor Grill! I would have given it 5 stars but the milkshake machine was broke and we wanted a shake. Other than that this place is just right:) read more

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Best all American greasy spoon in the country. Got to get their goetta. It's the best.

Goetta and cheese omelette!!! Gotta try it!! They may doze, but never close!! The perfect after hours place to be!! The only take cash...there is an ATM on site however...just a heads up read more

Went there with my mom and my son so three generations. The food was absolutely amazing down-home style food down hairstyle atmosphere amazingly friendly fun workers. When they saw my moms excitement over the old jukebox tomorrow at the is they played it for her. I will attach photos and video. Highly recommend it will be a lifetime customers!! read more

Anchor Grill never closes, and they don't really doze, either, despite the neon sign out front. I'll be honest- I've only been to Anchor Grill in the middle of the night. It's not that the food only tastes good when I've been drinking (although it does hit the spot). It's that it's my late-night tradition, and to go during the daylight hours could temper that. Anchor Grill is an experience. While the food is delicious, you don't go for that. You go for the opportunity to see transvestites get into verbal altercations with hillbillies, or to see college kids managing to find something with wheels and using it to careen around the cramped dining room. I love nothing more than taking people who had never been there before- Barbie and her band are reason enough. The servers have to be the most patient people in the world. I would kill someone within a week. Tip them out fat. read more

Place is fantastic. Been eating here for 12 years and will always come back. Reminds me of simpler times for a diner that is classic and delicious. Everything I've ever had is delicious. Love the bacon and French toast for breakfast. Huge fan of the fried chicken (45 minutes) whenever I have a late night dinner craving. It's just great to sit inside have some smokes and enjoy some food and not be bothered by anything but enjoying what is going on around you. The place is classic and cool combined. read more

This is a great traditional diner. We had French toast with "the works," which was delicious. The biscuit was very light but a little too dry. Not sure if this is a Kentucky thing, but smoking is allowed throughout the diner before 11 am. The diner was fine with us switching to a different section after three smokers sat next to us. read more

This place is the greasiest of greasy spoons. Old-school, no-frills, no-BS diner. None of that trendy attempt-to-recapture-diner-nostalgia business; the real deal. Prices are great, food is tasty. Coffee is surprisingly good. Pros: Life-saving hangover food. The sausage/egg/cheese sandwich rose me from the grave more than once on a Sunday morning. Cons: Cash only (but there's an ATM inside), and a lingering smell of stale cigarette smoke. read more

The anchor is... Well, it's the anchor. if you have not visited this character-filled restaurant, you need to make it at least once. The anchor is a anchor for Northern Kentucky culture. "We made doze, but we never close" is their motto, referring to there 24/7 hours. The anchor serves traditional breakfast foods, diner-style dishes, and, one of my favorites, Goetta. I was suggest getting a breakfast plate with Goetta. As they say, "when in France... " I hear that if you're looking for some late night 'entertainment,' and/or you can't sleep, you can visit the anchor at three or four in the morning for an interesting crowd. My first visit was some years ago when it was still a smoking restaurant, but now to Kenton County has outlawed that for eating places, I find it to be a much more pleasant experience while eating breakfast. read more

Kind of divvy but the service is GREAT. The food is find and the prices are good. Had breakfast here twice.

We were searching for a good lunch spot in Covington and asked the concierge at the Embassy Suites for recommendations. She recommended a Red Lobster on the way to the airport. Not that I'm not a Red Lobster fan, but we were looking for something with a little more character, so my buddy whipped out his iphone and consulted with Yelp. Greenup an Anchor were the number 1 and 2 options, respectively. Although Greenup looked pretty good, the Anchor promised to be a little more regionally fitting, so we headed down to Pike St. Before we even entered, we knew from the overall vibe that we had chosen wisely. Anchor Grill has a great old-school diner vibe and plenty of weird eye candy. And the food was up to snuff too. I had the GLT- Goetta, Letuce, and Tomato, which was delicious. We shared an order of biscuits and gravy which were awesome- I was even tempted to lap up the blobs of gravy that remained on the plate after the biscuits were gone. The country ham was also delicious- a nice big salty slab, on the bone. I'm sure this place is even more of an experience at night. I would definitely make a point of eating here again next time I was in the area. read more

having never been to covington, i yelped a late night spot for afterbars - and the reviews were enough to get us to the anchor about 3a. it certainly did not disappoint. the food isnt great, but the staff put up with the drunken rowdies and it certainly hit the spot. if you play the jukebox, you get the priviledge of a mini-stage show featuring barbie as the lead singer. the disco ball is awesome, and the coolest i remember seeing. loved the stream of transvestites coming in to eat - they looked better than most everyone else in the place, but it just added to the charm. read more

This place was on my bucket list and for good reason. It's reputation precedes it as a late night haven for half inebriated or just night owls needing grease and the camaraderie of other party people. So, when I walked in I was pleasantly surprised and slightly caught off guard by the first "room" but quickly navigated to an empty table that had a perfect view of (what I call) the gilded sombrero hanging from the ceiling and the totally spooky yet interesting animated puppet band thingy. The food: grease with a side of grease but very tasty especially anything with their goetta and eggs. If you're coming here for fine dining or some kind of palate palooza of flavor, you're going to be disappointed. What you will get is a nice amount of food for a good price, possibly some spontaneous entertainment from the patrons and the weird puppets. Parking in the lot is easy but getting the smoke smell from your clothes and hair is not :) read more

Full disclosure: I have consumed alcohol before. And in quantities sufficient to impair judgment, motor skills, and taste in music. I feel that this distinction qualifies me to review the Anchor, because, let's face it, I have it in common with most of the people who have ever gone there. I will therefore discuss it primarily as the place to which you order your designated driver at the end of the night. This is what Anchor Grill is for, really. You'll notice the other reviewers all commenting on how it's the place to go very, very late at night. What they're all too polite to mention (except Alex--represent, man), and what I will happily attest to in their stead, is that this is because it's the best possible place to weather your drunken stupor. It's open all night, the food is cheap and fantastic, and everybody else there is drunk, too! Really, if I can find fault with this place, it's that it just doesn't market itself correctly. It's all about down-home cookin' and delightfully rustic decor. What they should do is hang a sign outside that says "Anchor: where the party doesn't stop. Ever." There are some snags. For one thing, they don't take anything but cash. Bummer. Also, because it's such a popular hangout after the bars close, expect to wait a while for your food. But come on, the place is essentially a party on a boat (and if you're in the right condition, it even rocks like a boat!). Why rush it? And others have already beaten me to this, but seriously, two words for the first-timers: goetta omelette. read more

So my boyfriend and I were driving a friend home after a night out and I stated (not to anyone's surprise): "I'm hungry!" For some unknown reason (I think we were an exit or two away) my boyfriend suggested this place. And nearly lost it when both myself and the poor third-wheel-friend looked at him blankly. He acted as though it was the greatest privilege and honor for him to introduce us to this godsend of a diner. This place is the epitome of an old-school diner, ashtrays on each Formica table and all. I half expected to walk in and see my deceased grandmother (God rest her wonderful soul) sitting at the counter with a Diet Coke, a greasy cheeseburger and a cigarette dangling out of her hand. I will admit that I was slightly under the influence of alcohol, so that should be taken into account as I wax poetic about this place. However, we were all starving, and the Coke and grilled cheese I consumed seemed like manna from heaven at that point. I loved the weird clientele and random jukebox picks, could have lived without the blue cloud of cigarette smoke (but then again, it added something to the atmosphere). I will probably not eat here during daylight hours and I most certainly will not bring my mother here. However, it was more than alright in my book. read more

We found this place after spending time in the ER. The service was great; food was quick and delicious. We will add this place to our routine going forward when we travel to Cincinnati read more