Chili reviews... any part of the country, you're looking for a fight. CINCINNATI chili reviews? Definitely a fight. Followed up with ice cream.... and an awkward backslap hug... with something like "geez la pete, I thought you were going to say something about the Reds & the Virgin Mary while you were at it" Since we're in questionable waters already, let's go ahead & wade into Cincinnati chili with hip boots, oyster crackers, and a pull of courage. What makes the chili what it is? Did you know there are blogs exploring this local phenomenon, whose reviews are routinely pirated by national food media? They apparently have to - besides the 250+ alleged parlors in the metro area, there are close to 40 distinct brands. Who could get a grasp on this local institution under a tight deadline? Moreover, what local could write a clean review w/o obvious favoritism to their home base? I don't know the answer - by the ghost of Nicholas Lambrinides, I wish I did. But since you want someone's opinion... I've tried enough food I've lived in enough places I've had my wife throw my shoes at maitre ds (true story) So what I'm saying... is I'm qualified. Spices - Gold star hits it. Definitely more of whatever it is. Allspice? I have no clue, being a newb to the area, but I am an experienced foodie/loudmouth and I've tried at least a dozen varieties since I moved here. This has the boldest flavor of them all. ambiance? ergh... I'm not sure how to rate this. From what I've read, Character of a chili parlor weighs heavily into nostalgia factor - if my formica is bigger than yours. Goldstar unfortunately does little to differentiate themselves besides the recipe, but what else do they need to do stay un-current? Add fully-integrated smoking sections? Add fully-integrated digestive issues like a place rhyming with rilly rime? Mountains of cheese? They all have it - I love cheese in any form or fashion, and besides the (very) marginal edge Skyline gets for the (marginally) habenero cheese, they're all the same. Call it a draw regardless of parlor. ok, so to the important stuff - what do I order? 3 star? 4 star? double-secret-star? Just go 4-star with onions. Beans belong on chili if you also believe Hagar belongs on a Beatles reunion. Otherwise you're good to go - meaty, couple choices in hot sauces, and little grease/wateriness like you'll find at other stops on the chili train. Hey - I'm digging this Cinci tradition, whether calling it "Cinci" just made me some guy from out of town. It's delicious and fun - my kids love it, and it's just one of the many things this town pours it's heart into - like their sports teams, schools, and ice cream.... latter is irrationally irrational, but I'll hit that later. If you read this trying to choose between this place & Skyline b/c you're at a hotel and the masseuse will be there in an hour - you're actually fine whichever one you go to. They're both quick - we're talking faster-than-mexican-food-fast. I'm partially kidding - flip a coin on which part. Overall - Nod to Goldstar. Skyline is still very good & I hit the latter due to convenience to where I live. The important thing about Cincinnati Chili is to try it twice. Probably thrice. And keep an open mind I'm actually a Texas chili boy. This isn't Chili... but it's a greek-based treat you surely won't forget... and an obscure culinary delight you'll relay like a town crier wherever you live, for years to come.
(5)
Jeremy M.
There are few things that are institutions of a city. Cincinnati has the Reds, the Bengals, Graeter's, LaRosa's, and Montgomery Inn. But none of these elicit such an emotional, and varied, response as our Cincinnati-style chili, mostly because there's no debate about those traditions. Not so with our chili, because you've got so many to choose from. With that said, today's review focuses on Gold Star, and on the Mall Road location in Florence (not to be confused with the one that's actually INSIDE Florence Mall). Accessibility: Not the best. There's a ramp, but it's steep. I struggle with it and I'm a healthy 28 year old. Someone with a motorized wheelchair or scooter should have no problem though. I'll let that slide. Everything else to do with that is OK. Price: Not expensive at all really. I can enjoy a meal of two coneys, fries and a drink for about $8. Food itself: I do like my chili and I'm not extremely picky about where I get it, but maybe I should be. This is SERIOUSLY good chili. They had a limited time offer on an Oktoberfest Coney which was a brat topped with sauerkraut, chili, cheese and brown mustard. Mmmmmm. Good stuff! Bring this back every year. Why didn't Skyline do this? Staff: Friendly, courteous, quick. Great people. Overall, Gold Star Mall Road gets a 5/5. Can't wait for Oktoberfest time next year to get another Oktoberfest Coney.
(5)
Kevin K.
Gold Star Chili is 4 star food, but this location is 5 star. It nice that you get fast food at fast food prices but they that it like a regular restaurant. The service here is great, fast, and friendly.
(5)
Carrie S.
So good hits the spot everytime! The staff could use some cheering up; the women that work there are very nice but always seem so dumpy. I don't know and don't really care bc I love gold star and the food is yum!
(5)
Zoë D.
Ahh... Gold Star Chili! A Cincinnati area phenomenon and institution. Cincinnati style chili is a kind of sauce, not traditional style chili. I'm not going into the history of the chili style, and I'll lend only a brief mention of the "Cincinnati Chili Wars". This review is more specific to this particular location. The battles among chili parlors around here are legendary. Pledging your allengence to one or another is like openly discussing your favorite sports team, or political affiliation. But I digress... I've been coming to the Mall Rd. location in Florence, KY for over 20 years. Although many of the staff comes and goes, there are a few regulars here that know me. Sometimes I don't even have to order, my food just shows up. The staff is like this to everyone, not just people they know. They're friendly, helpful, know when to step in and when to leave you alone. The restaurant is also kept very clean and well managed. The food is hot, tasty, and reasonably priced. Granted, this review is assuming familiarity with Gold Star, I just wanted to point out this location. They've been so good to me over the years, I wanted to return the favor. So if you have the coney craving, stop into the Mall Rd. location in Florence. They'll take good care of you!
(5)
Michael H.
If you are new to the area, come here. first Not skyline. You don't want your first Cincinnati chili experience ruined.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Has TV : No Drive-Thru : No
Matthew L.
Chili reviews... any part of the country, you're looking for a fight. CINCINNATI chili reviews? Definitely a fight. Followed up with ice cream.... and an awkward backslap hug... with something like "geez la pete, I thought you were going to say something about the Reds & the Virgin Mary while you were at it" Since we're in questionable waters already, let's go ahead & wade into Cincinnati chili with hip boots, oyster crackers, and a pull of courage. What makes the chili what it is? Did you know there are blogs exploring this local phenomenon, whose reviews are routinely pirated by national food media? They apparently have to - besides the 250+ alleged parlors in the metro area, there are close to 40 distinct brands. Who could get a grasp on this local institution under a tight deadline? Moreover, what local could write a clean review w/o obvious favoritism to their home base? I don't know the answer - by the ghost of Nicholas Lambrinides, I wish I did. But since you want someone's opinion... I've tried enough food I've lived in enough places I've had my wife throw my shoes at maitre ds (true story) So what I'm saying... is I'm qualified. Spices - Gold star hits it. Definitely more of whatever it is. Allspice? I have no clue, being a newb to the area, but I am an experienced foodie/loudmouth and I've tried at least a dozen varieties since I moved here. This has the boldest flavor of them all. ambiance? ergh... I'm not sure how to rate this. From what I've read, Character of a chili parlor weighs heavily into nostalgia factor - if my formica is bigger than yours. Goldstar unfortunately does little to differentiate themselves besides the recipe, but what else do they need to do stay un-current? Add fully-integrated smoking sections? Add fully-integrated digestive issues like a place rhyming with rilly rime? Mountains of cheese? They all have it - I love cheese in any form or fashion, and besides the (very) marginal edge Skyline gets for the (marginally) habenero cheese, they're all the same. Call it a draw regardless of parlor. ok, so to the important stuff - what do I order? 3 star? 4 star? double-secret-star? Just go 4-star with onions. Beans belong on chili if you also believe Hagar belongs on a Beatles reunion. Otherwise you're good to go - meaty, couple choices in hot sauces, and little grease/wateriness like you'll find at other stops on the chili train. Hey - I'm digging this Cinci tradition, whether calling it "Cinci" just made me some guy from out of town. It's delicious and fun - my kids love it, and it's just one of the many things this town pours it's heart into - like their sports teams, schools, and ice cream.... latter is irrationally irrational, but I'll hit that later. If you read this trying to choose between this place & Skyline b/c you're at a hotel and the masseuse will be there in an hour - you're actually fine whichever one you go to. They're both quick - we're talking faster-than-mexican-food-fast. I'm partially kidding - flip a coin on which part. Overall - Nod to Goldstar. Skyline is still very good & I hit the latter due to convenience to where I live. The important thing about Cincinnati Chili is to try it twice. Probably thrice. And keep an open mind I'm actually a Texas chili boy. This isn't Chili... but it's a greek-based treat you surely won't forget... and an obscure culinary delight you'll relay like a town crier wherever you live, for years to come.
(5)Jeremy M.
There are few things that are institutions of a city. Cincinnati has the Reds, the Bengals, Graeter's, LaRosa's, and Montgomery Inn. But none of these elicit such an emotional, and varied, response as our Cincinnati-style chili, mostly because there's no debate about those traditions. Not so with our chili, because you've got so many to choose from. With that said, today's review focuses on Gold Star, and on the Mall Road location in Florence (not to be confused with the one that's actually INSIDE Florence Mall). Accessibility: Not the best. There's a ramp, but it's steep. I struggle with it and I'm a healthy 28 year old. Someone with a motorized wheelchair or scooter should have no problem though. I'll let that slide. Everything else to do with that is OK. Price: Not expensive at all really. I can enjoy a meal of two coneys, fries and a drink for about $8. Food itself: I do like my chili and I'm not extremely picky about where I get it, but maybe I should be. This is SERIOUSLY good chili. They had a limited time offer on an Oktoberfest Coney which was a brat topped with sauerkraut, chili, cheese and brown mustard. Mmmmmm. Good stuff! Bring this back every year. Why didn't Skyline do this? Staff: Friendly, courteous, quick. Great people. Overall, Gold Star Mall Road gets a 5/5. Can't wait for Oktoberfest time next year to get another Oktoberfest Coney.
(5)Kevin K.
Gold Star Chili is 4 star food, but this location is 5 star. It nice that you get fast food at fast food prices but they that it like a regular restaurant. The service here is great, fast, and friendly.
(5)Carrie S.
So good hits the spot everytime! The staff could use some cheering up; the women that work there are very nice but always seem so dumpy. I don't know and don't really care bc I love gold star and the food is yum!
(5)Zoë D.
Ahh... Gold Star Chili! A Cincinnati area phenomenon and institution. Cincinnati style chili is a kind of sauce, not traditional style chili. I'm not going into the history of the chili style, and I'll lend only a brief mention of the "Cincinnati Chili Wars". This review is more specific to this particular location. The battles among chili parlors around here are legendary. Pledging your allengence to one or another is like openly discussing your favorite sports team, or political affiliation. But I digress... I've been coming to the Mall Rd. location in Florence, KY for over 20 years. Although many of the staff comes and goes, there are a few regulars here that know me. Sometimes I don't even have to order, my food just shows up. The staff is like this to everyone, not just people they know. They're friendly, helpful, know when to step in and when to leave you alone. The restaurant is also kept very clean and well managed. The food is hot, tasty, and reasonably priced. Granted, this review is assuming familiarity with Gold Star, I just wanted to point out this location. They've been so good to me over the years, I wanted to return the favor. So if you have the coney craving, stop into the Mall Rd. location in Florence. They'll take good care of you!
(5)Michael H.
If you are new to the area, come here. first Not skyline. You don't want your first Cincinnati chili experience ruined.
(4)