Moerlein Lager House

This place was wonderful! I had the short rib grilled cheese, after our excellent and kind waitress made the recommendation! She was very attentive and helpful! We sat in the screened in area, which was perfect for wanting to still sit outside but not be in the sun! Definitely recommend and definitely will go next time I’m in Cincy!

This is a convenient location to the ballparks and downtown. They have a wide menu with steaks, sandwiches, salads and more. I started with spicy corn chowder, excellent. I ordered a very original dish, Squash Wellington, delicious and interesting dish.

Things I love:
Moerlein beer on tap. Other craft beers available in cans and bottles as well.
The view: It seriously cannot be beat. The view of the Ohio river, Roebling Suspension bridge and Kentucky is outstanding.
Things they could improve:
Service. Their servers seem to be under staffed and over worked. Bless their hearts — they try.
The food is pretty good, but not spectacular.
I will go back. I enjoy this place very much.

Great food, great view. I had a good time here. The steak was cooked perfectly and I loved the dark beer that they brewed (something with a hint of chocolate). The only reason this doesn’t get all 5 stars is because the waiter that served us rarely came to check up on us. I could tell he was busy with other tables, but we didn’t even get our steak knives until we were half way through our meal. We also only got one set of utensils when we ordered out appetizer and it wasn’t until a while that he realized we needed another one. Maybe more servers for the outside seating area? Would definitely come again for the food and beer though.

First time here… We tried the moer– burger. It was a good burger with cheddae, pastrami, bacon and a fried egg. Also tried the short rib poutine fries. Overall food was good but the selling point is the awesome view. It overlooks smallriver front park and the river itself.
Service: great!

Lots of variety on the menu and prices for lunch are perfect. Fish taco were very good and the pretzel appetizer are delicious. To top it off the view of the river is amazing from every part of the patio. Service was good, definitely will be back here!

Nice brewery with a fantastic location near the riverfront and the stadiums downtown. The night we were there, a jazz band was playing on the nearby stage and we were able to watch and listed from the porch. The beer is all quality, but a week later none of them stand out in my mind. However, the delicious bratwurst is still there, with an apple sauerkraut and spicy mustard. The only negative is the parking situation; there is s leaking garage about a block away, but it stinks there is no free parking.

Since we were enjoying the waterfront we decided to enjoy a nice family lunch. We sat in the beer garden and had an excellent view and a cool breeze to keep us happy. Our server was very nice but was a little slow filling our order. I enjoyed my blackened chopped salad but felt it was very reserved in the amount of chicken it gave for the price of the salad (3 tiny strips on one $ 14 salad) My husbands pork belly was almost exclusively fat. The atmosphere was great but don’t get too high of expectations when it comes to the food.

Christian Moerlein I’ve tried. I really have. We are officially breaking up and I’m sorry we have to do this over social media. I feel bad for using you for your beautiful view of The Roebling Bridge but a guys got to do what a guys got to do. I know people say that you should make a clean break but I can’t, I think you need to know what you did wrong. Will you change? Probably not seeing as you’ve been this way for over 100 years. But here goes.
Your beer, it’s horrible. I’ve tried A LOT of it. None of it tastes good
Your food, mediocre. Definitely not where I would send people asking for a good meal
Your service, good. That’s a positive… right?
I think this move is good for both of us. I can easily see a tourist or three really enjoying you but I’ve grown up. I’ve matured and I don’t think we are right for each other anymore. I’m sorry. Good luck.
PS: That rash is not from me.

Just a great location. Had drinks and lunch before a baseball game. Food was excellent and service was fast and friendly. This place is beautiful. Parking is easy since it is above a parking garage.

I hung out at Moerlein on Reds Opening Day this year. That being said my visit was under special circumstances since I’m sure not everyday is as crazy as Opening Day. I can still say either way I wasn’t a huge fan.
They have an awesome patio/​outdoor which is probably fun on a normal day the food left much to be desired. I had a burger and I really couldn’t tell you which one because it was totally underwhelming. I’m not a big beer drinker so I ordered cocktails which were overpriced and not very good.
I probably won’t come back again until maybe opening day next year. Definitely does not live up to the hype.

Came here on a recommendation from a friend. So we tried it after the Flying Pig Marathon So we didn’t know what to order they had a lot on tap so we did too fights. Great way to go. And we also ordered a Pretzel with cheese. The pretzel was really good and fresh the cheese was cold and hard but still good.

Although Flying Pig Marathon sponsor was Michelob Ultra and we were entitled to free beer after the race, but we make it a point to have the local craft brew, and so we decided to come to Moerlein for our first post race beer tasting.
Moerleins’ building has hints of Frank Lloyd Wright, architecturally-​modern, and has unobstructed views to Kentucky overlooking the Ohio River. Seating is inside and outdoor. It was crowded by the time we arrived but we found bar seating. The menu of beer is extensive but Morelein beer is mostly designed to mimic German purity laws.
Right away, we went for a sample of the IPA, but we were not impressed. National Liberty IPA wasn’t available so we settled for a German style-​dunkel (dark) called Barbarossa, which was OK. We also shared a couple of menu items: the smoked salmon salad and sides of spätzle with mushrooms and also the Brussel sprouts. The sides and salad were delicious and refreshing after our run.
Service was a little sluggish but it was busy. I had a good time and it’s worth a try if you never tried Moerlein beer from Cincinnati. Prost!

Came here with my wife and friends during our visit to Cincinnati. The service here is good, the food is good, the beer and wine menue is better than good. If you come here you will enjoy great views of the river and a superior dining experience.
Brief History: the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company was born in 1853, in Cincinnati’s OVER-​THE-​RHINE neighborhood. Christian Moerlein – a Bavarian immigrant and blacksmith– loved brewing hearty, european beers, and his craftsmanship was rewarded with top honors wherever his beers were exhibited. Moerlein’s beers were not only popular in Cincinnati, but they were commonly exported to europe and South America.
Though the Christian Moerlein brewing company continued operating after Moerlein’s death in 1897, america’s prohibition period forced the country’s breweries to close. but in 1981, when the moerlein brand was reintroduced to cincinnati, the updated beer was on the leading edge of the craft beer revolution. soon, it became the first beer to certifiably pass the strict reinheitsgebot bavarian purity law of 1516. true to the law since christian was the brewmaster, the beer contains only four ingredients: malted barley, hops, water and yeast.
In 2004, Christian Moerlein was purchased by greater Cincinnati resident and beer baron Gregory Hardman.

Came here for my boyfriend’s birthday dinner! The atmosphere of the restaurant + the view is very nice. We ordered fried pickles, dry rubbed sirloin, and fish tacos. Everything was good but nothing too special. The serving was plenty so we had leftovers!
The waiter seemed kind of turned off because we didn’t order drinks. He didn’t seem to care as much about us anymore when we declined ordering drinks.

This is a very nice place, Right beside ball park. Heck of a view of the Ohio River.
Lots of draft beer, Looks like they brew some of there own.
We had flatbread pizza & loved it.
My daughter in law says there prime rib is great.
Going to have to go back on a non game day.

Moerlein is the best place on the banks to get food before and after a game. Even if you just want to have nice dinner on the river, Moerlein is the place. I love taking people from out of town here. You get a huge ridiclous sized front and back of a menu of its own for beer. You get amazing food. The menu for food is so huge that you could go here to eat over 40 times and not eat the same thing twice.
So far I’ve gotten The Philly Cheesesteak, Beer Can Chicken Melt, Spinach Dip, and the Alehouse Burger. All were really great. They have a decent amount of vegetarian options too. One of my friends who is a vegetarian ordered the «Grilled Portabello Burger» last night while we were here and he loved it.
I love the atmosphere here. I think Moerlein is one of the best places for a summer date night. Chill vibes all around. The prices aren’t the most expensive prices, but everything ranges from like $ 10 — $ 27. Mostly everything on the menu is under $ 20.
The service here is always good. Not always great. Sometimes I feel like they are understaffed and I feel bad for our servers. They just seem swamped in the weeds so it’s not their fault when things are slow. However, last night for opening day we went and it was packed. We waited only 15 minutes to be seated and our food came out within twenty minutes. I was really impressed by that.
Like I said before, Moerlein is the best place on the banks to get food. Everything else around it are ether chain resturaunts or awful brofest drunkerd bars where you pay for expensive food and just get warmed up micorwaved food.

I have to say, my recent visit to the Moerlein Lager House was more impressive than My past visits. I went Saturday with a private party and our waiter handled our crowd of 20 or so with ease. The views of Roebling Bridge were great! When I asked what I should order as a «meat guy», the waiter gave me two options that he was sure I’d like — I took him up on the pork shanks and had zero regrets — so good! Some more popular items had sold out, so that bummed some people out. But, nobody could complain about the humongous drink selection, so we were just fine.
If you are in for a ballgame, or simply want a good place to grab drinks, Moerlein is worth a visit.

Great Location! This place has incredible views and great food offerings. Very pleased with the beers as well!
Started with grilled cheese stuffed with short rib… an adult grilled cheese. Delicious!
Some chipotle BBQ wings also paired well with the Winter IPA for the appetizer.
Dinner included butternut squash wellington. What a great combination of mushrooms, squash and the puff pastry. Definitely a good choice!

Talk about a meal with a view! Their local brews are great and food was thoughtfully prepared. Service is young and upbeat. Definitely recommend this place to anyone out of town looking for a good bite to eat.

A Cincinnati treasure. Some of the best local beer and the meat and cheese dish is a treat.
Great views from the outside seating area. My favorite spot on the banks

This place is the whole package– great atmosphere, great service, great beer and amazing food. Can’t go wrong!
This is my go-​to place to take out of towners, it’s a guaranteed good experience. Food is inspired and expertly prepared, there’s a wide variety of beers and cocktails that are crowd pleasers, and the view can’t be beat. Everyone has already said it all so I’ll leave it at that– a must-​try!

I love to take people from out of town here as the views are superb. Sit up stairs as the downstairs can be really noisy. Use the city parking lot on the riverside of the restaurant.
Enjoy fantastic beers and food.

This is our standby restaurant when friends come into town. We actually have to find a new one because we take people here so much. Great views, great food (the salmon salad is my favorite — also love the flatbreads) and Moerlein beer — what more can you ask for? We always go for the outdoor/​porch seating where there’s no wait instead of waiting «2 hours» for an inside table… yeah, okay.
Taking off a bit because sometimes the staff is bad about putting sound on the football games. I’ve seen this a few times there — If the entire bar is there to watch a Bengals game, please put the Bengals sound on! AND I’m saying that as a Patriots fan — I legitimately don’t understand why you wouldn’t cater to your customers. Anyway, my friends no longer go there for football, but it’s still good for a nicer dinner with friends or family in town.

A great hometown company with a beautiful building. If you haven’t been you must go. The restaurant is designed to do so many types of events. They host Oktoberfest right outside of their patio. They also deal with many Reds and Bengals events each week. The food is execelent and the beer is great here. This place is worth your time for sure! THE ONLY BAD thing that I can say about this place is the crazy wait times that seem to happen on the weekends or during busy days. I have tried to go here multiple times only to be told over an hour or more for a wait… Call ahead or plan accordingly!

Popped in here for a few drinks after a Reds game. Really liked the décor and it’s a nice view over the river, even on a wet and windy dark night. They have a great selection of beers and other drinks. I’ve not tried the food, but looks really tasty. Like the layout and friendly staff.

Good food at a good price, nothing exciting nice view of the river from the south end of the building. The beers are excellent and the food is well prepared. Great place prior or after a game.

The Moer-​burger was awesome, I would highley recommend that item. Take a cheeseburger and add some egg, some pastrami, sweet pickle relish, and black pepper mayo… Nothing but awesomeness.
I would suggest to stay away from the patio if you can on those extremely hot summer days, but if you can’t just grab one of the ice cold beers on tap.
Considering there was a Reds game and a huge concert going on at the same time, the service was quick and attentive. When you are downtown it is truly worth the time

The view from the restaurant is what makes it great. The whole back wall is made of Windows looking out over the Ohio River with the beautiful old bridge. At night, the bridge is lit and wonderful view for dinner.
The food can be on the pricey side but very tasty. We order some Parmesan fries for an appetizer. It comes with curry ketchup and black pepper aioli and both are wonderful.
For dinner, I ordered the Caprese Flatbread. I knew it wasn’t going to be the healthiest option but I was a little surprised when I received it. It seemed a little over-​cooked and a lot of olive oil was poured over top (I ended up having to dab it off as when I picked up a piece it would drop…). Really though, this was my only complaint.

The thing about Moerlein Lager House is this: It’s overrated. Sorry. I sound like a jerk for saying it, but it’s true.
I’ve eaten there twice, and both times, the food was passable, but definitely overpriced.
The first time, I had fish and chips for lunch, which were — meh. Not the best, not the worst.
The second time I had the Steak Frites and I also wasn’t impressed.
If you’re looking for atmosphere and convenience, Moerlein Lager House has it, but just know that the food won’t be earth-​shattering.

On 12-​23-​2015, my mother, girlfriend along with myself took my daughter to Moerlein for her birthday. We heard good things about them but of course you want to try it for yourself. What we experienced was good AND MORE! The service was excellent. They were attentive without being overbearing allowing us to enjoy our dinner/​company in peace. The food… exceptional! From my mom’s prime rib to my daughter’s dry rub sirloin, my girlfriend’s squash wellington to my blackened tilapia, it was all very delicious! Not too hot in spices/​temperature as if they knew we were celebrating a special occasion. I will definitely be going back to try another outstanding selection! Two thumbs up… WAY UP!

This place was a great spot for a large family get together we just had this afternoon. It’s big, and has a comfortable open air beer garden area with awesome views of the river. Reasonably priced and an awesome beer selection. Although I’m from out of town and I’m only in Cincinnati every so often, I’ll definitely be back here next time I’m passing through the area.
I had the beer baron brat with the sweet potato chips. It was exactly what I expected, no more and no less, which is great because I just wanted a brat and a beer. The sauerkraut was excellent, with some bacon bits all up in there. I had some winter lager which was pretty solid but a bit sweeter than I’d expected. There were easily over 100 beers on tap and some of the cocktails my aunts and uncles got looked great.
This is the kinda place to have a big meal with a big group in downtown Cincinnati. Great service, even better views.

Moerlein is a big modern airy restaurant/​bar right on the Ohio riverfront, right across the street from Great American Ball Park. Beer and upscale bar food? What could be better – especially right before (or after) a game? A LOT. I’ll get to that below. However, with huge floor to ceiling windows surrounding the place, the atmosphere is fantastic and open with excellent views of the river and adjacent Smale Riverside Park. In fact, it’s actually nestled within a corner of the park.
Where they go wrong is with the food itself. They TRY to be upscale on some items, but for the most part it’s just unimaginative bar snacks with a moderately upscale price. (Thankfully, it’s not TOO expensive). And the entrees, while you’d think could be in a fancy restaurant, are mostly poorly prepared and often arrive at your table late and cold.
DO NOT GO ON GAME DAYS. This is why I say a lot could be better. That time is really for those who want to brave the crushing crowds and unbearable noise.
I really want this place to be better, but it’s got a long way to go. Stop in for a beer when there are no other events going on downtown and you’ll be ok. Otherwise, avoid the hassle of an uncomfortable dining experience.
Three stars is being generous here, only because it can be pleasant for a quick brew on those off days in their excellent space. Try it at your own risk.

Moerlein gets 2.5 stars (sorry for the missing half star in the rating) for location, atmosphere, service, and fireworks. The views at this place, especially from the upstairs dining area, cannot be beat. Our dinner ended with fantastic views of fireworks over the Roebling bridge. Very cool. The service was prompt and attentive, even with our large group. The space is large and great for parties, which means that it is loud. If you want a quiet dinner or to have a meaningful conversation, go elsewhere.
The food is where Moerlein falters, though. The menu is extensive and there is something for everyone, but that something just is not very good. After reading some reviews, I ordered the short rib grilled cheese with the sweet potato chips. Both the sandwich and chips were okay, really nothing to write home about. My boyfriend got the fish and chips, which was not any better. The fries were kind of stale as was the batter on the fish. The fancy tartar sauce was runny and had us hankering for the real stuff (or even the stuff from Long John Silver’s) to at least make up for the bad batter.
I may go back if I was at a Reds game and I had absolutely no plans afterward, but that would be it. Please don’t go out of your way to visit.

Thumbs up for good beer and delicious food.
Thumbs down for slow service and dirty tables.
We arrived and seated ourselves in the «beer garden.» This was an outdoor space temporarily screened in for cold, winter weather. It had a nice atmosphere — TVs, bar, high top tables.
The tables all seemed to have some type of leftover residue from the previous guests. Ew. We waited about 10 minutes until one of the waiters finally asked if we had been helped. He went to get our waitress. She came over and asked what we would like to drink and we stared blankly at her because we hadn’t even been given menus yet…
We finally got around to ordering some beverages. My dinner dates and I tried a few of the house beers and enjoyed each one we tried. I loved the 5^th and Vine Oktoberfest. Now that we are rolling into the holiday season, they had a Christmas beer list. There was a Ben and Jerry’s salted caramel beer that one of my dinner dates tried (Moerlein had one of 6 kegs in the city so he couldn’t resist). This was a very sweet and heavy beer. I suggest getting a flight with this beer as one of the options. It was a little too much to drink an entire pint.
We shared a spinach dip app with garlic crostinis. It was a very good balance between spinach, artichoke and cheese. The crostinis paired with the dip perfectly.
For dinner I enjoyed the caprese flatbread. It was fabulous. Fresh mozzarella, basil pesto sauce, tomato and balsamic glaze. There was a distinct basil pesto flavor, which i love, but if you’re not into that then I would opt for something different.
Luckily my dinner dates and I weren’t in any hurry, so we enjoyed our experience even with slower service. I would definitely go back to try more of their beers and food!

Wow. Awesome food, beer and definitely one of the better restaurants on the banks with it’s reasonable price, lively atmosphere and scenic views.
The charcuterie board was good. I got one of their lighter beers and the mellow taste was just right for the mood. The pork belly was savory with a little charred taste that provided an adequate amount of kick. Mac & Cheese was good. The bread pudding was phenomenal. Can’t wait to try the rest of their dessert menu.

Loved this place. The food, the view (on the river), the service, and the beer, were all great. Went here on a Saturday and there was a 1 hour wait for inside and no wait for outside, which was great since it was a nice evening and we wanted to sit outside anyway. The only (slight) downside was that not all of the outdoor tables had umbrellas and we had to sit in the blaring sun. BUT, the view of the river made up for up it completely.
The menu has a lot of German style things like spaetzle, brats, pretzels, etc. They have a nice beer selection, many beers brewed in house. I had the meat and cheese platter (2 meets and 2 cheeses). It was enough to make a meal for a girl like me with a hearty appetite.
The atmosphere is light and fun. I saw many people on dates and also a few families with children.
Since the restaurant is right in front of Smale Riverfront Park, we walked over to the park after dinner and enjoyed a beautifier walk and ride on the swings. Great for a date night! I will definitely go back when I’m in the area again!

Going in, I was a little worried. First off, all the bad reviews. Second, even though I made a reservation for 4:30p on a very busy Sunday night, our table wasn’t ready until 5p. And even then, it was suddenly ready just because I went up to ask what was taking so long. Also, considering we had a mom with a stroller, I wasn’t sure why they put us on the second floor waaaaay in the back corner — it was quite a tight fit.
However, everything else was pretty great! My dad and I shared a meat and cheese plate and a burger. For the meat and cheese we selected smoked sausage, salami al pepe nero, bacon-​chive cream and butterkase. It came with thick slices of bread, sauerkraut, min pickles and mustard. The serving size was decent and everything we chose was delicious. The burger was even more exciting because of the crazy amount of toppings — not to mention the sweet potato fries! We decided on the the Moer Burger — the patty was topped with pastrami, cheddar, bacon and a fried egg!
All the portions were large and everyone at my table seemed pleased with their dishes — BBQ Nachos, Meatloaf, Fish Tacos and Beer Chicken Sandwich.
Overall, I enjoyed it here. I would definitely go back during a week day when it’s less busy. But I’d love to try out their dessert menu!