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    Herb & Thelma's Tavern

    4.6 (149 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican, Burgers, Desserts
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

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    Herb & Thelma's Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    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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    Anna O.

    Great neighborhood burger spot! They make them right behind the bar. A no frills great price. The jalapeño burger was so good and hit the spot. We grabbed a drink to go with and it was perfect.

    Exterior of front entrance
    Carlie A.

    I have no idea why a tavern with such a small menu would choose to offer gluten free buns but I am SO glad they did. Burgers come with just pickles and onion and that's perfect. The gluten free buns were actually delicious and heated, which always helps. Limited menu but I think that's perfect. You order at the bar and then they yell your name when it's ready. Note they are cash only!

    Double Hamburger with Jalapeno
    Madi S.

    Absolutely spectacular no notes! If you're looking for a family run spot that is authentic and casual this is your spot. Bring cash dunces it's cash only (there is an atm though). The burgers are to die for (what they're known for!). I got a double with the jalapeño spread and it was spicy but FABULOUS!! another time I've been there I got a single cheeseburger and it was also amazing. Don't sleep on this spot if you want a fun spot with the family that makes you feel at home.

    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.

    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.)

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Ice cold beer and best burgers in town. Friendly and welcoming staff. Highly recommended

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 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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    7 months ago

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    1 year 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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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    11 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

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

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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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    Ask the Community - Herb & Thelma's Tavern

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    Milkman, you were so, so, so good to me! I've never been into the restaurant, though I have gotten…read moreDoorDash once before. It was as delicious as I wanted it to be! When my friend and I walked in, we were greeted by such a sweet staff who immediately welcomed us in, shared their thoughts on the menu (since we were first-timers), and suggested we leave a review (they were so lovely, so how could we not!) The entire restaurant feels like the diner Sam worked at in Cinderella Story from the early 2000s - very vintage, very retro, very 50s! It's what I imagine restaurants looking like when my grandparents went on dates when they were my age. I had gotten the tofu nugs via DoorDash, which were better IRL and the milkshake was scrumptious too! My friend got the Milkman Burger, fries, and a fruity pebbles shake. It was all great but let me tell ya...we had this meal almost two weeks ago and I'm STILL dreaming of those French fries. I have had so many iterations of fried potato before...shoestring, steak, wedges, sweet potato, those made from yuca, curly, dipped in ice cream, etc. and these are the best fries I've had in my life. If I could live off the fries, I would. They were that good. I already have plans to share this place with other friends of mine as it has officially worked its way into the rotation for me!

    I got the make your own burger with meat patty, grilled onions, pickles, and special sauce. It was…read morepretty good in all honesty. I did have it to go so all I can tell you is the food was pretty good. I don't know how much I can actually recommend it. The best thing it is down town Cinci so it's decent enough to go to for lunch.

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    Ah thankfully Otto's was packed because it gave us an opportunity to try The Standard. Our waitress…read morewas very helpful and kind in explaining the menu to our group to new to Cincinatti area including what on Earth goetta is. We got the Breakfast tostada, Smoked brisket Benedict, Standard breakfast burger, nuggets and potato cakes, and a side of fruit and goetta. I will say sausage on its own is very harsh for me so I enjoyed the goetta. The tostada was on point, and really a remarkable way to use refried beans, as a spread. Everyone slopped up the Benedict, together. And that burger was gone in 4 minutes flat. Wow some of the best brunch food I've had in years. The decor was immaculate, love how they kept the original garage and its theme.

    The standard is a great option right out outside of the city. There is a garage parking nearby that…read moreis right across the street. We had no wait on Saturday night, no reservations needed. We are greeted upon a friendly worker, and our server was also friendly. The menu is very limited... That is the only reason I'm taking off a point. They had less than 10 options for food, which I was disappointed in because I often like a little more variety, especially when the menu doesn't really have the same common thing. Like there were just a bunch of random options. I got the I don't goetta chopped cheese, which was really good and I also tried a chicken tender, which was pretty good even though it was in the shape of a very small nugget not as a tender as advertised. They didn't even have the piña colada's even though it was on the menu. But maybe it was a blessing in disguise because I got some sort of blended coffee drink with Bailey's instead, which was delicious! Super cute place and I loved the vibe I would come again maybe on a fall night to be able to enjoy outside because we were originally placed outside, but then it started to pour! I'm not gonna be racing back here anytime soon, but I'm glad I tried it.

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    We stopped in here yesterday after going to the aquarium. It was my husband and I and two of our…read moregrandchildren. The smallest grandchild got the chicken strips and then the three of us all had burgers. I had a bacon cheeseburger with mustard and onion and it was a pretty good burger I ate every bit of it! My older grandson had a bacon burger without cheese and he ate every bit of his as well and he said it was good. He didn't care for the fries but I did, I actually liked the fries better than the onion rings. So I ended up eating his fries. It ended up working out well for us because they were hungry after our morning at the aquarium and they wanted different things to eat and we were able to make everybody happy. We will definitely come back here for burgers again.

    Food: Got two burgers and a shake and everything hit. The burgers were built really well - my…read moreHawaii 5-O had pineapple in every bite, and the bun had that perfect soft, slightly smooshed consistency that works with the juicy burgers. Super satisfying. Fries: These are easily the best fries I've had in the Cincy area so far. They're somewhere between shoestring and thicker fries - long, a little toasty, and just really addictive. Not super oily, so something you could eat whether you're trying to be "diet" or fully going ham. Service: The younger staff had a bit of a interesting vibe, but the older guy there was super chill and kind of balanced everything out. Ambiance: Chill little spot on the corner. Nothing over the top, just easy and comfortable.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Mad Mike's Burgers & Fries
    Mad Mike's Burgers & Fries

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

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