I couldn't wait to write this review fast enough. I absolutely love this place -- it's officially my new Cincinnati go-to spot. I don't get to Cincy very often, but I was in town for work and this happened to be the closest bar/restaurant near us downtown that looked decent. Safe to say I got very lucky. The first time I went, I ordered the chili as a starter and a chicken tender platter. And when I tell you I was so happy with both -- I mean it. I love a good chili. I grew up eating it with my grandma, and this one tasted like something she would have made. The cheese and sour cream were perfect. I'm not a huge onion guy, but even those worked well with it. Now here's the catch... it was so good that I literally went back and ordered the exact same thing again. And somehow it was even better the second time. They really outdid themselves on both dishes. One thing I noticed the second time around: I asked for three sauces right away, and they brought them out on a plate with a built-in sauce area. It was actually really convenient -- perfect if you're sharing with people. Now let's talk about the tenders. I'll start by saying I know fried chicken pretty well. Pound for pound, these might honestly be the best chicken tenders in America. The easiest comparison I can give is this: imagine if Cane's and Zaxby's had a kid and named him perfection. That's what these are. Sometimes Cane's can be a little light on seasoning, and sometimes Zaxby's goes a little heavy. These are perfectly in the middle with a great crunch and just the right amount of seasoning. Another thing I really liked about this place is the versatility of it. It feels like the kind of spot where you could do anything -- happy hour with friends, a birthday dinner, a corporate dinner, or even a family night out. I love that kind of diversity in a restaurant. Just 10/10 ambiance. And the staff were incredibly nice and welcoming, which always makes a difference. Honestly, writing this review is making me want to book a flight back to Cincinnati just to eat there again. Wow. read more

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On a work trip and went with my co-workers for dinner. Was immediately greeted and seated. The game has just ended so there was a lot of people coming in. It was noisy, but we were able to still have a nice conversation. We got the pretzels with beer cheese and spicy mustard. The pretzel was soft, beer cheesy is gooey and so good, and the spicy mustard packed a nice punch! Will definitely recommend! I got the BRU Burger; medium well cook Taleggio Cheese, Bacon, Tomato Jam, Caramelized Onion, Chopped Lettuce, Mayo I got the tomato jam on the side because I never had it and wasn't sure if I'll like it and asked for no bun. The server was nice to offer more shredded lettuce or leaf of lettuce for my burger. The burger was well seasoned, cooked perfectly yo my liking, and to my surprise the tomato jam was delicious! Only thing is... it doesn't come with any sides, not even fries!! You'll have to add that as a side if you want fries ($2). There are other side options. Service is super good, food is good, place is clean, cocktails made well. Overall, definitely would be back next time I'm here. Sadly, I devoured my deconstructed burger before a photo could be snapped. read more

I came here with a small group on Saturday afternoon after visiting a museum nearby. There was a very short wait for a table, but the staff was friendly and efficient with getting us in as quickly as possible. I'd consider this a slightly upscale burger spot--the prices are mid range (around $15 per sandwich NOT including a side). A little pricey for a lunch, in my opinion, but the food was absolutely delicious! I enjoyed the Bourbon burger cooked medium. It had tons of melty cheese and sauce, and the pickles (served on the side with every burger) were a perfect accompaniment. On a side note: A friend I was with ordered her burger with a lettuce wrap in lieu of bread due to dietary restrictions, if that's your jam! read more

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Bru never disappoints! Stopped in for lunch with my coworkers and tried the sriracha Caesar salad. So delicious but can be a little spicy depending on how much sriracha is drizzled on top. I added the blackened chicken for extra protein and it was cooked to perfection. Our server was amazing and gave everyone great recommendations. Will definitely return. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Sriracha Caesar - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I would consider myself true burger connoisseur. I always look for the best burger spots around and this place Bru Burger is amazing! I got the bacon white cheddar burger medium and it came out true medium. The burger had such flavor and came with a thousand island sauce that was out of this world. I'd say this burger spot is in my top 10 all time if not top 5! Do yourself a favor and go eat at Bru Burger you won't be disappointed! read more

Game day...looking for a good breakfast spot, but because it was game day...without a reservation we thought we were toast to get in anywhere. My niece remembered this burger joint and called to see if we could get in and they said YES! We got there about 11 am and got a great table where the boys could enjoy the London game in progress and the girls could get a nice view of the outside...win win!!! I ordered the Provençal that had goat cheese among other goodies on the burger...but really they had me at goat cheese. hub got a double patty burger with just the meat and cheese and got an order of fries..I opted for the coleslaw. This was no secondary choice fail because of no reservation elsewhere...this was a home run...and should be your first pick on game day if you want a great burger and I do emphasize GREAT! I could not get enough of the burger to goat cheese ratio...it was simply superb! Hub also loved his burger...as did Niece and Nephew who chose it as a back up plan. I would seek this out again in Cincinnati....it was really amazing. Our waitress was also top notch and the environment was sporty and very fun! read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Provincial with coleslaw...Amazing! - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We were downtown and wanted to get a small bite to eat so stopped into Bru Burger Bar for an appetizer. Well...their burgers sounded so good that we ended up getting those instead of something small! I got the Bru Burger (Taleggio Cheese, Bacon, Tomato Jam, Caramelized Onion, Chopped Lettuce, Mayo) which was delicious! A little messy, in the best way possible, so I ate the second half open-faced, with a fork. The host who greeted us and our server were both very friendly and did a great job. We will definitely return when we are in the area. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Tasty yet not mind blowing. If you are in the mood for a casual meal that is tasty and not overly expensive, this place will do. They have a very good menu and drink choices. Family friendly, with outside sitting available. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Give it a bite and enjoy every one of them, read more

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My second stop of the day before heading to the Yankees Reds game. The pretzels we received, the one I picked up was stale and hard. These were not supposed to be hard, it was supposed to be soft. Next the Bloody Mary was tasteless. I couldn't believe it. I was just about to send it back when I decided to give it a stir and then I started getting some flavor. Poor skills in the bartender. I must say that I am a born and raised New Yorker from the Bx and I'm used to a certain quality of food. Maybe what I are here was delicious for people born and raised in the Cincy area. read more

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Walked in at lunchtime and sat at the bar. Dining room half empty. Sat there for nearly 10 minutes and no one even acknowledged I was there let alone gave me a menu or a drink. So I left. read more

We came to Bru before a show at the Aronoff - great choice!! It's been years since I'd been here and it did not disappoint. The drinks/food came out a bit slow, but they were very busy. The triple dip is a must have- this hummus and pimento cheese were seriously delicious! I'd ask for extra pita next time cuz we used it all and still had some dip left over! Adding chicken tenders to any salad is a great move also-- the chicken was perfectly cooked. Definitely a great downtown Cincinnati restaurant! read more

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We had a great experience from start to finish. We were here for a seminar/conference So they had a good lunch rush all at once. We were seated quickly, greeted quickly with the best service by Eddie S. & we all thoroughly enjoyed our burgers & onion rings. Definitely a good spot for lunch or dinner. My cousin & I split a burger & at the end they easily split the cost on the ticket which was really convenient. I was pleasantly surprised by our experience today & will definitely go back. read more

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My sisters and I loved Bru Burger! I had a delicious salad - the Valencia. It's really hard to find vegan options and they both loved the Impossible Burger. It was cold when we visited but plan on coming back when it warns up when they can open the open-air front section. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Valencia - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Great burgers and a fun atmosphere. Stopped in today for a breather from the hot day the lemonade gin drink suggested by our server was a perfect way to cool down. Ordered a patty melt and the suggested onion rings. Patty melt was juice and tasted good but those onion rings were some of the best I have ever had so crunchy and paired with the house made catsup it was unbelievably good. Server was very friendly and efficient. Definitely need to stop back soon! read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Almost forgot to take a picture, I enjoyed the patty melt but the onions rings were the winner! Gin lemon aid made it the perfect lunch - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Here Visiting from Chicago... Bru came recommended from the hotel staff, and they hit it well. Ella was my server reccomended the Hot Chicken Sandwich and the Onion rings. Geez talk about a tender juicy chicken sandwich the louisville hot sauce was just perfect not too mild and not extremely spicy.......Delicious..... We cant forget aboit the fresh cut fries, cooked to perfection and salted properly........ But also the highlight was the homemade ketchup.... A Game Changer. All the staff is extremly friendly. Great atmosphere to enjoy a night out with that special someone, friends or family. Ella Thank You Once Again read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Onion rings with that homemade ketchup - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Love this place! The food was delicious, (forgot to get pics). Had the pretzels and the Mexicali burger (sub chicken) and fries. Our server Rugi (I think I messed that up) was wonderful. Prompt and polite! And the restaurant was quiet with the Bengals game playing. Thank you for being open on such a cold day! read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Pretzels - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Trifecta was achieved, service was second to none. Recommendations were spot on and food quality was wonderful and soo good. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming inviting. Beverage selection too numerous to mention. read more

Nice staff, decent pricing, and rarely a wait to get in. Just none of the food made me want to go back. And I had to ask for fries without their seasoning mix on it (tasted a bit sugared) read more

Incredible burgers as always, then provencial burger is always a great choice. Came here for cincy chili week and my friend loved the chili fries. Great vibe on a Thursday night, pretty empty in there around 8pm. Our waitress was hilarious!!! One of my favs in cincy. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - provencial burger - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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YUM! We started with the Nashville hot chicken tenders, and they were perfectly breaded and delicious. The portion was definitely a shareable size. We then opted for the Buttermilk Cobb salad and got the larger one and had it split into two bowls to share. Again, super large and totally loaded. For the burger, we ordered the chipotle barbecue and a side of onion rings. As you can see from the photos when you bite the beer battered onion ring the breading did not fall off nor did the onion pull entirely out. They were done to perfection. The burger was full of flavor and cooked as requested. We chose these items because our server Miangel gave the recommendations. She asked us questions to narrow down the menu and we were super happy with our eats! Overall we had great service and great food. read more

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During my brief time in Cincinnati, I searched for the best burger I could find. Bru Burger Bar was at the top of the list. I ended up getting the Mexicali burger with queso on the side. Unfortunately fries do not come with the burger, but I ordered a side of fries. The burger was downright delicious. If you ever do a takeout order, make sure they add ketchup. They have their own homemade ketchup. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Mexicali - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

It was an incredibly rainy night in Cincinnati -- I ran into an old friend at the conference I was attending and we decided to grab some dinner. He was in the mood for a burger, so we picked this spot. It wasn't crowded at all, so we were sat immediately and our server was at the table in a flash. After careful deliberation, I chose the lamb burger and my colleague completely changed course and went with chicken fingers and onion rings. And oh, my, my, this lamb burger was pretty tasty! Not the best I've ever had, so it didn't bust into 5 star territory, but definitely a 4 1/2. The fries were just -- fries. Nothing really all that special. I was actually disappointed when I saw the onion rings because those were actually amazing (my colleague let me try some) -- should have ordered those even if it was an up-charge. Overall we had a great visit, like I said, a solid 4 1/2 if Yelp would let me give half stars. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Friendly and prompt service at Bru. I appreciate that they are open on Mondays since a lot of other area restaurants are closed on Mondays. Always inviting and friendly -- I like the funky high top tables the most. As for food & drink: let me start by saying I am not a burger person. So I ordered the Sriracha Caesar salad: I am so pleased (and surprised) that a burger joint has an awesome salad! I took a leap of faith the first time I ordered it and I haven't ordered anything else since discovering that it's so tasty! Also- thanks for having some wine too! read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Sriracha Caesar salad! - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We visited right before going to the Aronoff. It's very close by. The food was great and the service was fantastic. We ordered the Beginning Burger and Bean Burger. Both very good. Do be advised that this place will be very busy before shows so plan accordingly. It is a little pricey but given the surrounding area you should expect that. We will be back. read more

We had eaten at BRU Burger Bar in Montgomery and had a delicious meal. We were seeing a show downtown and decided to stop here for a bite before curtain call. We were heading to the Taft, but the place was packed with folks going to the Aronoff, which is literally steps away. I don't think we noticed they had a burger of the month before, but they did and we went for it - Brie Cheese, Capicola, Cranberry Compote, Black Pepper Mayo and Crispy Onion Straws. It was good, though we both agreed the capitol should have been cooked to more of a crisp. We found it a bit chewy and a little hard to swallow. Still, the flavor was great. I ordered fries, which were addictive in their, what I believe is, house made ketchup. Mark ordered chili cheese fries and enjoyed them. Just a note - I think fries, regular ol' fries, should be included in the price of the burger. I ordered a Pear Cosmo because I couldn't help but think of it as a Perry Como. It was not outstanding, but it was good. Generally, BRU Burger Bar is consistent and solid food. read more

Food: Good flavors, generous portions. Even the Snack Burger was large enough for a very filling lunch when paired with the fries and some unique ketchup/salsa sauce on the side. Service: friendly but slow. We came in for lunch and it took a good 40 minutes between ordering and receiving our food which kind of blew out timing out of the water. Bartender was very friendly and attentive. Environment: pleasant, dark paint with fashionable lights, big windows, and reasonable noise. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Snack Burger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Everything was pretty mediocre - not bad, not great. I had the turkey burger but I replaced it with a lamb burger, and we shared the fries. The curry mayo however is a must - it was amazing. I also had the partridge in a pear tree to drink and it was also meh. read more

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Came here on the recommendation of a few colleagues. The restaurant is large and open, not loud, nicely decorated and plenty of outdoor seating. Service was immediate, polite and friendly, no issues at all. My server, McKenzie , was very pleasant. I ordered the mushroom Swiss burger with chili-cheese fries. The burger was good, nothing to rave about, but correctly cooked and tasty. For $15 there are better burgers in town, but it was fine. The chili-cheese fries were excellent! The fries were crisp and the chili really tasty. I would eat here again, but I believe next time I'd order the patty melt. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Mushroom Swiss burger with chili cheese fries. - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great salad. A little eery I was only customer there at 3 pm on Friday, but other than that, I give the salad an A.

Good place to get a casual, sit-down meal near Fountain Square. We were staying in downtown Cincinnati, and Bru was walking distance from us. It is not right on the square, so you do not hear the music, but it's still close to the hustle and bustle. The space is open and stylish. They have a full bar, but they also have a very family friendly menu (including a kids menu). We went with our two kids. We did not make reservations, although they do offer them via OpenTable. We were greeted and seated immediately. We ordered drinks (make sure to talk through the drinks orders as some items were no longer available) and our food, and the drinks came out quickly. The food took a bit longer, and some errors were made but corrected. We ordered: a pear cosmo, a locally made beer, the black and blue bison burger, a beginning burger, and two kids meals (one with chicken bites, the other with fried shrimp). I had asked for fruit with the kids' meals (which were options), but they came out with fries. Thankfully our server ran to get the fruit too. The food was all solid, but not exactly cutting edge. My bison burger was cooked well, and there was a good amount of bleu cheese on it. I wish there was more blackening spice used, but it was still tasty. Some of the fries were over-fried. The kids enjoyed their kids meals. I had the cosmo, and it was tasty. My husband liked his beer. I would recommend this place as a nice place to eat while in downtown Cinci. read more

It's a good burger bar but nothing that really stands out. Found this place on yelp and decided to try it out as we wanted something not too expensive and try something we don't have in my area. We had a reservation but it wasn't needed and promptly sat. The menu has a ton of burger options and chicken options for those who don't want that. Burgers were cooked medium well and had flavor. Overall it was good but nothing to run back for. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The bigger and fries are well seasoned are super delectable. They will bring your taste buds back to life again. The milkshakes are sweet, milky, and smooth. Their wings are well sauced. The service is warm, welcoming, and friendly. They are super attentive to the needs of the customer. The ambiance is clean, sharp, warm, friendly, and comfortable. I highly recommend eating at BRU Burger if you want to eat some food that will make you have a hard time getting up from your seat. Food belly is a thing and this restaurant will show you, I left no leftovers. Highly recommend this spot for a good burger and fries! :) read more

They scored a hat trick with us. We had great food, great service, in a pleasant atmosphere. We will be back! We were starving. After we checked into our hotel we decided to walk to the casino and grab dinner along the way. We just happened upon this place and decided to give it a go. Our server was on it. She did everything she was supposed to do. She kept our glasses refilled and checked on us several times. The location and atmosphere was nice. The surroundings felt clean. It made it enjoyable to eat there. The food was delicious. I ordered a Bleu cheese burger. It was perfectly cooked and came topped with bleu cheese, an awesome pear bacon jam, spinach, truffle aioli. The burger was memorable. The fries were very good. My partner ordered a patty melt that greatly enjoyed. I left feeling like I got my money's worth. I hope to go back soon. read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Patty Melt* - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Came in for dinner with friends before a show at the Aronoff during Cincinnati Restaurant Week. The food was great and the portions were generous! I got the Valencia Salad, Bourbon Burger, and Peach-White Chocolate Bread Pudding. The salad was phenom - so fresh and so flavorful, totally would've had just the salad for a meal. The burger was perfect - nicely cooked, very tasty, and paired well with their crunchy fries. And the dessert was absolutely enormous, definitely meant to be shared. The bread pudding was moist and came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, yum. Such a filling meal at Bru Burger, and for only $26! Thankfully I didn't fall asleep at the show haha! read more

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Came here for dinner because they have a gluten free options and it was an easy walk from my hotel. Love that they have a printed gluten free menu vs just notations on the regular menu. Sat at the bar, ordered a small Valencia salad without avocados and red onions and a Double Bacon burger plain just the meat and cheese on a gluten free bun. Valencia Salad never arrived so I was bummed as it sounded really good Bartender said she's put the burger order in as a build your own so it would be cheaper. After paying and getting my receipt turns out it cost more doing it that way - $16 vs $15.50. Double Bacon Burger - okay. Tasted like it had sauce which I had asked for plain. Something to keep in mind - smashed patties aren't the same as a regular burger patty. Had I known I would have ordered a regular burger. Gluten free fries - thought these were okay. Wouldn't order again. Disappointed as I was looking forward to the meal having read the raving reviews and excited about the gluten free menu. But would give them another try. read more

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Went here because it was very close to our hotel and it was a very good pick! Burger was great and Im a big fan of the ketchup!

We like to go here before seeing a show at the Aronoff. It is easy to get a reservation and the food and service are great! Nice, modern atmosphere with various seating options - tables, high tops, bar, booth tables. read more

Food was Amacing, Service was ok she seemed irritated Ambiance is festive. Burgers were great! I had the Mushroom Swiss but forgot a pic..I was starved!! read more

BRU Burger Bar - Cincinnati - Burgers Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Relatively decent food and clean environment. Nothing exceptionally here but certainly adequate for a bar experience. There are better options but a safe pick if you are in a hurry and looking for a place to go for a bite to eat. read more

We stopped by after our nephews' graduation for a quick bite. I thought it was just another burger "joint," but this establishment was a very pleasant surprise. I had the Gorgonberry Pecan salad that was delicious, but just about everyone else had some incarnation of a hamburger. No exaggeration,at least half of the people said it was the BEST burger they ever tasted. The burgers looked to be individually formed and perfectly cooked juicy. Not being a big burger fan, I didn't have a bite of my wife's sandwich, but we will be returning, and I will give a burger a try. read more