Skyline Chili

A Cincinnati icon. This is one of the few restaurants that I always go to and never once have I had a bad experience. Been coming to this location or as long as I can remember. Every single time the food is incredible. The staff is always welcoming and friendly. I don’t know the gentlemen’s name but he always gets really excited to see me and pretty much knows my order. Everyone there is really patient and has no problem customizing your order. My review is probably a little bias since I always get a large three way and a chili cheese coney. Food always tastes fresh. The cheese is some of the best cheese I have had from any restaurant. There is a reason why I will never stop visiting this location. Staff is always quick to get your order ready and the food is always hot. This is must stop if you are in this town.

Granted, I’m from Cincinnati, so I’m a little biased, but that also contributes to why I think this Skyline is great.
I’ve heard some people say it tastes better back in our hometowns. I have noticed a difference in taste but it was minuscule.
The reason why this location is so good is because it’s the fastest one I have ever been in. I get my food faster than any other place I’ve been to in Oxford and any other Skyline I’ve ever been to.
In the middle between the 2 largest parking areas in uptown. They’re open late on the weekends so I’ve been able to grab a bite to eat after being out with friends. Plus the staff talks to me almost every time I’m here.

What’s up with this place? The food is good, probably one of the better skylines in Cincinnati. But every time we go into this place, there is food ALL OVER the floor. It’s as if they just brush the scraps left on the table onto the floor, and don’t bother cleaning it up. I’ve worked at skyline before, and while this is the method they use for cleaning up the tables, we ALWAYS used a small portable vacuum to clean the floor after each customer. I have NO idea why this location is not doing that. Sure the table is clean, but underneath the table it is repulsive. Enough so that I don’t want to eat there. It would be understandable if they were really busy, and with the drunk crowd, i can understand why this isn’t a priority. But when you’re pretty dead on a Thursday night, I think you should have the floor clean.

This is the best skyline in Greater Cincinnati. The new ownership seems to really go the extra mile.

As the popular phrase goes, «you are what you eat» and I could not be more proud to be comprised of Skyline Chili. Everything from the oyster crackers to the Skyline cop waiting by the door is perfection. Their buttered noodles are to die for and don’t even get me started on their coneys. The ambiance in the restaurant is impeccable and the service is pristine. When I die, bury me in Skyline Chili.

This is the best Skyline in the area!
Great service! And the cheese piled high!
Thanks Skyline!

Calvin Trillin may have correctly pointed out that Cincinnati Chili is really just a form of spaghetti bolognese, but it has a certain integrity. The long-​simmer beef mixture has a sweet sauciness that’s distinctive and I can see why midwest expats might be nostalgic for it. Shredded cheese and diced onions are legit toppings too.
Speaking of nostalgia, there’s something powerfully welcoming about this place — bright lights, booths and tables full of families and other folks of mixed ages, post-​Thanksgiving football games on the t.v.s. The owner came around to catch up with the regulars in our party while the server also cheerfully helped those of us who had never been there before. This may well be what an ad for Skyline Chili looks like.
Still. I may be a midwesterner by blood, birth, and present domicile, but I think that at heart (or at least at my culinary heart) I must be a southwesterner. In an almanac of American chilis I would rate Cincinnati well below many other competitors. Give me the meaty density of Texas, the green chilis of Colorado and New Mexico. In fact, as I write this I’m thinking of how much I’d like to brew up a mess of beans, anchos, and beef when I get home instead… that’s not Skyline’s fault exactly, but the heart wants what it wants.

We are from out of town and came here because I heard it was the best place to eat. I really wanted to like it but I was not a fan of the sweet chili or the cheese. But if you love chili and cheese on everything this is definitely the place for you. The prices were really cheap and there was a lot of people there because it is a local spot.

Not a huge Skyline fan however it’s close to my work and is always good once in a while. I always get the same thing which consists of a connect and a 4 way with beans. Had to mess up Skyline so I can’t knock the food. Service is usually good and the manager friendly.

Totally crappy. The food isn’t bad but it isn’t great. The service is total crap also. Never going back!!!

First time at Skyline. I had 1 bowl with onions and cheese. YUM. The owner was so nice. He keep coming over to check on me. For sure will be back the next time I’m in town. Its a quick in and out.

Went in at 9:30, even though they closed at 10:00, we got none of the usual «Get out of here» feeling. The waitress (Anna) waited till we were ready to leave to vacuum, food was excellent (Chili burrito) and service was great. We spent out money here because Krishna Indian (across the street) gave us the «We don’t want your business near close» story.

Incredible service. The managers are a father and son who are two of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Food is fast and delicious every single time.

Every time I come in here, the manager makes me feel like I am important and that he is happy to have me there. This attitude resonates throughout the rest of the restaurant and I feel safe here. It is standard Skyline food (which I think is good), so there is not a huge variety of options. Nonetheless, I appreciate their service and that is why I consider this restaurant a five star restaurant.

I’d have to agree w/​Zack’s comment about Skyline being good drunk food. Plenty of carbs (either noodles, beans or bun) to soak up any alcohol ingested. The chili itself was a bit strange to me; a bit watery and lacking in tomato zestiness. But I still enjoyed the experience of having chili on spaghetti, fries and a hotdog in one sitting. Liked how they don’t skimp on the cheese.

As drunk food, this is as good as it gets. However, as sober food, it’s a runny mess that is rather mediocre.
Skyline Chili is a Cincinnati-​based chain that has spread to surrounding metropolitan areas, such as Indianapolis, Columbus and Louisville, as well as states people from Cincinnati are moving to, such as Florida. In fact, Skyline Chili made the news when one of its Florida stores refused to serve the jurors from the Casey Anthony case, but I digress.
This is an area that is monitored regularly by an Oxford police officer, so nothing ever goes down inside the restaurant (why would anything happen there?). It’s situated at the main intersection in town, so EVERYBODY in town has been there at least once.
You can either 3-​way it (spaghetti plus onions and cheese), 4-​way it (3-​way plus beanless chili) or 5-​way it (4-​way plus beans). I’ve had 4-​way and 5-​way before, but at different locations. The quality of the food and the interior remain constant with each location — notably average. There is nothing noteworthy, except how much water is in my bowl after I finish each time.
If you’re looking for Cincinnati-​style chili, this is the only place within miles. Since others have raved about it on here so convincingly, you might want to check it out — it’s either hit or miss.

Its been a while since I’ve been here. But the times I’ve been here, the experiences were decent. Cheese coney with chili cheese fries were my favorites. Everything else was mediocre.

This location is under new (and improved) ownership. The service is friendly and the food is always hot. Definitely the place to go for a five way fix.

What’s the best part of being from Ohio? SKYLINE CHILI (and Graeter’s!). Try it once and you’ll never go back to plain, old boring chili again. Unless it’s homemade of course.
If you’re a newbie, definitely go for the cheese coneys! They pile on the cheese, but that’s easy to remedy. Just take some off! I order with all the toppings, minus onions. And when you’re done stuffing yourself with wonderful cheese coneys, don’t forget to search out where to buy it if you move away!
When I moved to Chicago, I could only buy frozen, chili cheese dip at Meijer, which was good enough for me. But once I go home, my first stop is always Skyline!
Cincinnati (and Ohio) is famous for Skyline, so it’s a must try if you’re ever in the area!

Now that my brother has finished going to Earlham College in Richmond, IN (to the northwest), I’m a little sad, since usually me and my family would at least make one swing into SW Ohio per trip, and several times when we were passing through Oxford, we ate at this Skyline.
Loved the chili, whether I got a 3-​way, 4-​way, 5-​way, or instead, a coney. Staff at this location was pretty friendly and decent. I’m hoping the next time I’m in SW Ohio, I can actually hit up the Ludlow Ave. Skyline location in Cincy.
Until I can once again return to SW Ohio (which I sadly don’t think will happen anytime soon), I’m crossing my fingers that Cinners in Chicago does at least come pretty close to the quality of Skyline chili, if not equal to it.