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    The Gruff

    4.1 (405 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Bars, Delis
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Gruff Photos

    Business Info

    THE GRUFF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Gruff

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    Reviews With Photos

    Griddled meatloaf sandwich
    Andy S.

    Stopped in prior to the Savannah Bananas game. Seated quickly, server asked if we were going to the game. When we said yes she said she'd let the kitchen know. Ordered some drinks, sorry to say, I've forgotten what drums we ordered. Truly a bummer since everyone seemed to really like what they had!! (Sorry!) One of our party ordered the Margherita pizza. No leftovers there! Very happy with that choice. I ordered the Griddled meatloaf, pickled red onion, melted American cheese and bbq sauce on a griddled sourdough bread. Now, I've considered my wife's meatloaf the best I've had (not just saying that, it's great!) but thus was Real close! A definite repeat order next time. My wife opted for the fried chicken sandwich. She like it a lot. She doesn't remember details about it but she recalls it was hot and very good, so, you'll have to go with that. Location of this place makes it a great place before or after a ballgame downtown. Could get a bit noisy as it has concrete floor, lots of glass and a metal roof. But, I would think after a Reds win, a great place to celebrate ( or, in case of a loss, a great place to commiserate!) When my wife says something on the order of 'we need to eat here again' well ya know we'll be back

    Amazing weekly specials and delicious food!
    Madi S.

    I went to The Gruff for brunch and it was fantastic! I had a mimosa and the sausage sandwich -- absolutely delicious. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. I've been a few times and the pizzas and fried chicken sandwich are my absolute favorites. That chicken sandwich is the stuff of dreams -- thick, crispy, and perfectly seasoned. The atmosphere is always great, and the food never disappoints. Definitely one of my go-to spots in Covington!

    Kim S.

    I loved the concept of this restaurant with the 3 Billy Goats Gruff at the base of the Roebling Bridge. And I loved the location and the colorful exterior with the goats painted on the building. Unfortunately, I didn't like much once we entered. When we first arrived, even though it wasn't very busy it was pretty loud and then it filled up, including a large group of kids and their families and it got really loud! The metal chairs were super uncomfortable. I ordered apple and bacon pizza and was really disappointed. The apples were sliced paper thin so that you couldn't actually taste them. There was also supposed to be blue cheese on the pizza but I didn't taste that either. I will say that our server did a good job and was friendly but with the other things going against it, I don't think we'll be back.

    Happy hour pitcher deal
    Anna H.

    The wait staff was stellar; recommendations for our group took into account all our requests. Patio service and server adjustment for shade was top-notch. Food choice amazing.

    Goetta Grilled Cheese
    Joyce K.

    When looking for a place to take a last minute group of 8 near the Kentucky Convention Center, we came across The Gruff. It was a 5 min walk away and we were able to be seated outside. I ordered the goetta grilled cheese and the princess peach and although the service was great, the food did come out notably slow. We discovered the goetta is actually a mixture of ground pork and beef, and not cheese like we originally thought. The grilled cheese also had spinach in it which was interesting, but I personally was just hoping for a normal grilled cheese. My friend found a fly in her martini, but they kindly brought out another one. Overall, the Gruff was alright for a casual meal but I don't think I would recommend it or return.

    Margarita pizza on califlower crust.
    Dianna S.

    Great little place. Staff were super nice and attentive. Food was great and didn't have a long wait. Will definitely stop back in.

    Truffle Sausage Pizza
    Christian B.

    A good place to eat! This local restaurant offers a well rounded menu, from pizzas, hot and cold sandwiches. A good salad selection and a kids menu. The selection of local and domestic beers is very nice. The restaurant was clean and offers lots of sitting indoors and outdoors. The staff is friendly and professional. Give it a try and enjoy the food.

    Bar
    Wendy K.

    We received a $10 off meal coupon as a gift and decided to check this place out. We are so glad that we did. First let me share that everything is homemade at this establishment and that makes it extra special for me. Knowing that they take that extra step means a lot. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. As a teacher it's his second job to help support his family, I appreciated how he made us feel welcomed and how he provided us with insight about the restaurant and their food. Clean, busy and friendly is how I would sum it up. Good food and drinks. We will return too!

    Griddled Meatloaf Sandwich
    Tammi W.

    Great atmosphere and service. Close to the river so great view there. Meat loaf sandwich was ok but the fries and pickle fries are to die for!!

    Chicken sandwich
    Dennis T.

    The chicken sandwich was the best meal I had in 3 days! The pickled slaw is the icing on the cake and the service was friendly with a smile. Couldn't ask for more!

    Brussels Sprouts Pizza and Margherita Pizza
    Christy C.

    This was my first time stopping in, but I loved it! You seat yourself, but there is table service, and our server was friendly and fast. She even helped us get drink orders in before happy hour ended. The BLT salad was a nice start, and the Brussel Sprout Pizza stole the show! You seriously have to try it. This pizza was so good, I still think about. Plus on Mondays, all specialty pizzas are only $13. They have other great deals throughout the week too, so there's no bad time to stop in. The casual atmosphere made it a great place to grab a few friends to share a pizza with some drinks. Or you're in a carryout mood, you can also pick up local beers to go there too! They have a great selection of chilled packs and single cans to build your own six pack.

    Pitcher of large and delicious Tito's drink!
    Sable S.

    This was a wonderful find on the Covington side of Cincinnati! Cute and eclectic restaurant with excellent pizza, a lovely patio and great service! The pizza was incredible and the drinks were good and strong for a crazy girls night out! Can't wait to visit again for these delicious pizzas!! Easily walkable from the hotels on this side of the river from Cincinnati!

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    7 months ago

    Food was great, service was even better. They serve a meatloaf melt which was beyond amazing.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    This is one of our favorite neighborhood spots. Both our oldest and youngest grandchild's favorite restaurant. Great views. Great staff.

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    10 months ago

    Amazing time! Fantastic service and the food was great. There's a great margherita pizza that was well priced and I had great drinks.

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    1 year ago

    The food service and ambiance are always a hit. I definitely recommend the pizza and their chicken salad.

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    Ask the Community - The Gruff

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    Tokyo Kitty - Tiki drinks

    Tokyo Kitty

    (144 reviews)

    $$

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    If you love karaoke this is the place to be. You can go in…read morethe back area that's free and listen to people sing or sign yourself to sing. Or you could get a private room for just you and your friends and sing as loud and wrong as you please. If you get your own room you can order drinks from there and the come down from the ceiling. It's always amazing to look at.

    Reserved a room for two hours. Drinks are reasonably priced, well-crafted, and tasty enough…read more Employees were also pretty nice and helpful. But the actual experience felt bare and poorly-executed. Cheap. The rooms are very minimalist in design, are not soundproofed (can hear other rooms singing, not to mention the main club room), and the karaoke tech is TERRIBLE: The music defaults to weird keys, is randomly out-of-sync with on-screen lyrics, and the song library is so minimal (do not go to the Japan-themed karaoke bar and expect to karaoke any Japanese songs or anime titles). Add to that the removal of past elements like drinks being lowered through the ceiling and robot deliveries, plus a mandatory gratuity added to your room reservation fee (not just your drinks, which itself is sensible), and I can't help but feel Tokyo Kitty has gone out of their way to cheapen an experience (not the cost) that will eventually run out of one-time customers. Improvements I think could help: Karaoke client overhaul - install a system that works and has a broader selection of music. Probably get better microphones too. Automated drink order system - This is a rare business that actually NEEDS QR code mobile phone menu/ordering. Guests order drinks on their phones, and employees can deliver them as needed. Or, install the novelty drink-delivery system! Flipping a card in a window and waiting for someone to enter and try to juggle drink orders while customers are wailing into a mic is inefficient. Sound proof rooms - or sound dampening. If the hole in the ceiling is pointless to have anymore, get rid of it! Spruce up the place - a few graphic arts of some celebrities hung on the walls feels cheap and lazy (The mural of Eartha Kitt stays. It's so good and adds some real, actual character and warmth, but it's the ONLY thing.) Otherwise, add literally ANYTHING that says "You're in a place called 'Tokyo Kitty'!"

    The Gruff - pizza - Updated May 2026

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