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Herb & Thelma's Tavern

4.5 (143 reviews)
InexpensiveAmerican, Burgers, Desserts
Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Herb & Thelma's Tavern Photos

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HERB & THELMA'S TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Herb & Thelma's Tavern

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Hamburgers ready to go
Tyanna M.

Lunch yesterday at Herb & Thelma's. Definitely a dive bar in Covington. Hubby did not care for his Coney Dog but that's because it had Cincinnati style chili on it and we are not a fan. Burgers were good and the folks were friendly in there. This is not fast food they are cooking everything to order on a small flat top. Street parking and cash only! There is an ATM on the premises.

Brews and more!
Josh W.

It seems that it's usually the smallest burger places that pack in the most character and flavor. That's definitely the case with Herb & Thelma's! The place itself is a bit divey, but it's brimming with classic character, and its burgers make it a must-try spot. There are lots of classic beer signs everywhere to match its great beer selection. The menu itself is all about burgers, sandwiches, and sausages. No fries though, only chips. You grab your table first, order at the bar, and they'll call your name when your food is ready. I tried the jalapeno burger on my first visit with my work crew. The wait wasn't long at all and the burger was excellent. It has a jalapeno cheese spread on top with sauteed onions and fresh jalapenos on the bottom. Did it have a kick? More than I'd expected! My nose was running a little before I was done. Note that they're cash only, but they do have an ATM, conveniently placed in a "confessional" booth behind a curtain. Told you this place has character! I could certainly see coming back with my fiancée.

Homemade Chili
Ryan L.

This place is an absolute staple within the community, and today I found out why. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted with the most welcoming staff and also customers as well. Instantly felt like family, and the walls are covered with local history everywhere. It's like a perfect time capsule of our area. The real star of the show however, was the food. Their cheeseburgers are INCREDIBLE, the menu is straight to the point and curated perfectly. I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to try it, but it won't be the last time I eat here that's for sure.

Jim P.

Alalways worth the stop. It will become your favorite burger spot quickly. Bring cash and enjoy

The Brat w/ Sauerkraut
Scott N.

I wavered between a three and four star review, but went with a four-star review because of the overall vibe of the place. There's nothing too outstanding here, but the food and the general feel of the place are pretty great. You can tell this place has been around a long time, so it's a bit like stepping into a time capsule. I ordered a brat because it came with house made sauerkraut, which they heat up on the grill. It was messy, but it was good! All that said, they are known for their burgers. If we go back, I'll definitely try a burger. The ordering process is unusual, but they know what they're doing. Thankfully one in our group had been here before so we navigated paying for lunch like an old pro. If you've never been, you should definitely check it out.

Spicy Brat
Andrew C.

Ethan and his family were very hospitable and what great atmosphere located in Northern KY! Service was awesome and now let's talk about Top 3 Cheeseburger in Kentucky! Great Double Cheeseburger(onion and pickle) - juicy, steamed with cheese. Excellent chili with jalenpenos. Special hidden gem in Covington KY. Thanks Ethan- we'll be back.

Menu with prices including tax
Kristin E.

We have driven past this bar for the last 8 years on our trips to Louisville and finally we had enough time to stop in and check it out. This might be the smallest bar I have ever been to, when you walk in the front door it's like going back in time. Burgers were fresh and made to order and the beer was cold. This is a cash only bar and the prices are very affordable. We had two burgers, two bags of chips and 6 beers for $48. Herb and Thelma's didn't disappoint and we will definitely go back on our next trip to Louisville.

The bar
Liz F.

I'm so glad to have finally made it to Herb & Thelma's! My husband and I had a little date night last week and this was a perfect location. The burgers were excellent, the interior is fantastic, and the volume was low enough we could talk. The food is cooked fresh in front of you and the staff is friendly. The decor is vintage and represents the history of the restaurant, building, and area. We didn't have cash, but the ATM inside was perfect. (It's hidden behind a curtain by the bar.)

Best Burger ever .. make the drive oh I forgot the chili is fantastic also ..
Greg H.

Excellent food , Great hole In the wall .. drove 2 hours to eat a Burger I'd say make it a stop on your travels ..

Nikki G.

After driving for a while, and having those hunger pains strike, my boyfriend found this place, right across the river from Cincy. There is street parking and the town Herb & Thelma's is in, is adorable. This is also a cash only establishment, however, $20 should cover it. You also order at the bar. We were immediately greeted as we walked in and I immediately fell in love with the place. There were some gentlemen at the bar, who all seemed to know each other. It was comforting. There is a back area with tables and some games, and the front area, where we sat, had tables and the bar. I loved how it was decorated with various memorabilia. I ordered a hamburger and chips, that were local, with a gluten free bun. Yes! They have gluten free buns, which are pretty good. My boyfriend ordered a cheeseburger and chips. This place is no frills and has a small menu, but what they do here is fantastic. That burger was wonderful and when driving through that area, I would definitely go out of my way to make the stop. Our entire order with 2 bottles of water was under $20, but with the tip it was $24. Not bad for a lunch on the road that was local and not a chain.

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2 months ago

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26 days ago

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7 months ago

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11 months ago

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4 months ago

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2 months ago

Gosh darn good burger and Italian sausage . Great food is hard to find these days. Both me and Pam loved the food here.

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

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8 months ago

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3 years ago

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9 months ago

They stay open till 11pm but they stop serving food at 9pm. Should not be listed as a late night food place.

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11 months ago

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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8 months ago

Like a taking a step back in time, Herb and Thelma's defines classic American food. The service is incredible and very friendly.

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Best burger in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. Great staff and friendly environment.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Food was great and the atmosphere was pleasant and homey. Staff was very welcoming and the place is full of neat history.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Simple, yet delicious! Great atmosphere too. I love the small town vibe and welcoming feel.

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

Greta little spot for a quick bite and drinks. Always like coming here during rush hour to kill time during traffic

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5 years ago

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Ask the Community - Herb & Thelma's Tavern

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First time visit to Blinkers Tavern at lunch time on a week day. The interior has a cool vibe-…read morerelatively small space, but quite a few tables outside (warm weather on an early March day) that were all occupied. They have a charming patio at the back of the interior space as well. I didn't realize they have their own lot, but in case it's full, there is plenty of street parking nearby. The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and kept drink refills flowing. We ordered the pretzel and beer cheese and the poutine for starters. The pretzel was huge and tasty. I didn't care for the beer cheese, probably because I was expecting a more solid cheese product. I would describe this more as a cream sauce. It didn't seem to have much cheese in it and was very 'liquidy'. Also the ramekin was only half full. If it had tasted better, I would have asked for more, but as it was not, we didn't even finish what was given. I thought it was a bit pricey at $12.95 for one large pretzel. On the other hand, the poutine was fantastic! A very unique take on the dish with a mix of cheese curds (although they reminded me more of pieces of mozzarella sticks), french fries and Andouille cream gravy. I ordered the fish tacos which consisted of Blackened Salmon, Thai Chili Sauce, Black Bean Corn Salsa, Pico de Gallo. My order came with two and they were fantastic! Since Blinkers is known for steaks, I will have to give them another try at dinner time.

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Herb & Thelma's Tavern - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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