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July 5, 2017

George and John were joined by Rod Gossett and Joe Hermann for a late lunch at By Golly's in Milford—a restaurant which, at 0.95 miles from the Trail, just barely met our one-mile-from-the-trail cutoff criterion.

By Golly's is essentially a low key, unassuming, modestly priced neighborhood place which specializes in "burgers and beer,” though they also offer comfort food appetizers such as onion straws, waffle fries and nachos. Salads and pizza, as well as heartier dinner plates, are also on the menu. The dining area is one large room with a bar in one corner; outdoor seating is also available. A number of lunch specials are offered, and each comes with a draft domestic beer. Full bar service is available. Perhaps half a dozen beers are on draft, with many others available in bottles. Domestic drafts are $2; craft beers $4.50.

When you walk in the door it’s not long before you realize that you probably shouldn’t take a seat at the bar, even if every stool is open. Each of those stools probably has the (unwritten) name of some local who finds their way there at various times of the day. Not a problem, though; there is plenty of seating at the tables. Looking around we saw at least 9 televisions, an outdoor patio, historic picture of Milford on the wall and plenty of local patrons having lunch.

We started our lunch with a couple of baskets of popcorn from the popcorn maker positioned at the side entrance. Nothing beats a bar with free appetizers. Luckily the popcorn was self-serve because the service was slow. It took several minutes after getting there to get drinks ordered and several minutes after that to actually get our drinks.

Rod chose a By Gollyburger -- swiss cheese, sautéed onions and honey mustard dressing. Joe got a chicken sandwich off the lunch specials menu instead of a burger. George took a Black and Bleu burger, blue cheese and New Orleans spices. All three were priced at $8.99. John, being more adventurous, selected the Sunny Day Burger topped with goetta (only in the Cincinnati area!), a fried egg and cheddar cheese, all for $9.49 (Tums and/or Pepto-Bismol available at extra charge). All burgers were cooked as ordered—medium rare, well done or whatever—which was a happy and refreshing change from the one-preparation-fits-all attitude exhibited by most chain restaurants.

George’s food was mediocre, at best; the greasy burger just didn't sit well with him. John’s sturdier constitution seemed impervious to any grease issues, and he even reveled in them. However, some grease backlash hit later with a one-and-a-half-hour nap after he got home. Joe and Rod voiced no complaints, but neither did they offer any praises. As mentioned service was exceptionally slow, despite it being mid-afternoon when we ordered, and our waitress, while competent, was unenthusiastic. These factors, coupled with the lack of proximity to the Trail, would lead me to not recommend By Golly’s to Trail users; overall, I just can't see it being worth the almost two miles round trip from the Trail.

By Golly’s rates 2.5 bells out of 5. Don’t let this keep you from going, though. If you like the local bar atmosphere, and are looking for a variety of burger choices, then this is the place. Another positive are the prices. This lunch was 40% less expensive than a couple of other places we’ve visited.

By Golly’s
714 Lila Ave., Milford
Website: www.bygollys.com
Phone: 513/248-4444
Hours: 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, Mon. through Sat.
   

June 14, 2017

This week we visited Pizzelii Brick Oven Pizza, directly across the street from last week's 50 West, for lunch.  Their specialty is artisan brick oven fired pizzas, though they also offer salads.  Their crispy thin-crust pizzas come in just one size—12" (8 slices)—though they offer a VERY broad range of toppings, and a choice of red or white sauce.  They also offer 7 pizzas with pre-set toppings. 

We made the cardinal reviewers’ mistake; we both ordered the same item on the menu, a red sauce "Carni" (meat) pizza with pepperoni, apple-smoked bacon and capicola (a delightfully unique crumbled and spiced ham sausage).  The sauce and cheese were perfect.  We agreed it was one of the best pizzas either of us had ever had—anywhere.

Ordering/paying is done at a central register where patrons also select their drinks.  Soft drinks, wine and beer are available.  Of the latter, four beers are on draft -- including a lager from 50 West right across the street.  They also have a nice selection of canned and bottled beers.  Having paid, patrons are given a tower with a number on it, and then they seat themselves. Each of our pizzas with a beer came to about $17 per person.  The pizza by itself is about $9 and is plenty for a hungry runner just off of a good workout. 

The kitchen is open to the dining room, so you can watch your pizza being made and cooked in the brick oven from your table while you wait.  With light traffic in the restaurant, the pizzas were delivered to our table in about five minutes.  Patrons are expected to get their own napkins and silverware and, if necessary, to-go boxes for leftovers.  As staff service is minimal, no tipping is expected. 

The restaurant is bright and well lit, with minimalist décor. The noise level was extremely low on our visit, primarily because there were so few patrons. 

To rate Pizzelii’s, I was initially going to knock it at least 2 dings for lack of service.  I like going to places where you can sit down and be waited on, but that seems a bit unfair.  Also, the pizza was so good. The place was clean, open and a nice atmosphere for conversation.  So Pizzelii earns a 4 out of 5.  One ding for the lack of service.

Both Pizzelii and 50 West are located at the far south of the trail.  This section, at the Newtown Bridge, is actually part of Great Parks of Hamilton County.  The Little Miami State Park starts around Avoca Park.  Based on data collected by the Friends of the Little Miami State Park, an organization we both volunteer with, there are at least 100,000 trail users going through that part of the trail each year.  There is a parking lot off of Newtown Road at Bass Island.  From there it is an easy third of a mile walk on the trail to either of the restaurants. 

Worth noting is the 50 West Production Works right next to Pizzelii on the same side of Wooster Pike.  There are several sand volley ball pits, a grill and the tap room.  The Production Works opens at 4pm.  It looked like you could even rent canoes for a trip down the river if you wanted.

Final note on this section of the trail.  Just a little further down the road is Flipdaddys.  This is a Cincinnati chain, gourmet burger place.  I’ve been there before and it’s worth the stop, but it does not meet the no-chain criteria set out at the beginning of this adventure, so we will not be going there to review it.

Pizzelii Brick Oven Pizza
7639 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati
Phone: 513/437-0412  
Website: pizzelii.com
Hours:  11 am to 9 pm Sunday through Thursday; 11 am to 10 pm Friday and Saturday

Our first stop was 50 West Brewing Company on Wooster Pike across from the Newtown Bridge.  About 120,000 trail users go past this spot each year.  The closest trail parking is located just in front of The Little Miami Golf Center on Newtown Road.  It is about a third of a mile from that point.  People my age (I graduated high school in 1979) will remember this location as The Heritage Restaurant.  An old Volkswagen Van outside sets the restaurant ambience. As you enter the front door, you know it is a brewery from the smell of the grain fermenting in the brew house. Inside the decor is casual and inviting.  There is a large bar area with low ceilings and lots of wood finish.  It’s an easy environment to sit in and just enjoy the company of friends.  It wasn’t crowded at all, so we were able to sit wherever we wanted.  There were 3 of us today, George, Joe and me (John).  We were greeted immediately by the bartender who was also our server.  He was very friendly and helpful in helping us decide on drink and food.

They serve only their own brew.  I had the Into the Sunset Summer Ale at the recommendation of our server.  It was refreshing—good hop with a taste of lemon, but not too much.  George had the Punch You In the EyePA.  Joe just had a Coke.  We ordered the Pork Belly Fries as a starter.  These were great.  Fried red potatoes, crispy bacon, apple slices and a tasty sauce.  There was plenty for the 3 of us, but if we had another person, I think we would have been left feeling a little shorted.

For the main course I had the 50 West Melt, basically a hamburger on rye, $12.  It was good.  You could taste the bacon and house dressing.  I wasn’t asked how I wanted the burger cooked, so for me it was a little overcooked, but not so much that it lost its taste.  It was plenty to eat for me and didn’t fall apart like some burgers I’ve had.

George ordered the Steak Sandwich, a thick and large rare roast beef sandwich with salad greens, $12. Joe had the Hot Ham and Cheese, $11. Both of their sandwiches looked huge compared to my burger.  If I go back, I will likely try the steak sandwich.  It looked really good.  Lots of meat, cooked medium, so there was just enough pink.  George could only eat half of it.

On a scale of 1 to 5 bike bells, I rate the overall experience a 4. Joe gives it a 3.5. The only ding is the price.  I have just gotten used to paying $9 for a burger, so I’m not ready to pay $12 yet.  Also, the beer was a little pricey.  Other than that, service was great and the atmosphere was such that we were able to have great conversation and enjoy our meal.  If you want to try 50 West, I recommend you go in the evening when there is a little more crowd and you’re in the mood to spend a little time to enjoy yourself.  There is a nice outdoor patio that would be pleasant at that time of day.  It’s easy to get to and you don’t feel like you have to clean up too much after your afternoon walk, run or ride.

50 West Brewing Company  
7668 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati
phone: 513/834-8789
Hours:  Daily 11 am to 11 pm 

Beer and liquor available. 15 in-house beers on draft, $5 to $7 per serving. Soups and salads, $4 to $12; appetizers $8 to $12; sandwiches $8 to $12; entrees $14 to $16.  Comfortable, low-key ambiance.

Reviewed June 2017

June 21, 2017

When the Trail Taste Adventure was conceived we didn’t plan to stop in Terrace Park; as far as we knew there was nothing but a Subway, and Subway did not fit our Taste Adventure criteria.  Terrace Park has always been a town you’d drive through at or under the speed limit but never had a reason to stop—until now. 

We welcomed summer with lunch at The Birch on Rt. 50, opened just ten weeks ago, according to manager/owner Aaron Tritsch. The Birch derives its name, we assume, from the full grown "clump birch" which shades the outdoor eating area in a cozy and secluded courtyard which also contains a full-size bocce court.  It’s just a quarter mile from where the trail crosses New Street in Terrace Park.  The closest trail parking lot is at the Milford Trailhead which is about a half mile walk, ride, or jog from New Street.  You can reasonably park, walk to eat, and then have a casual walk back to the car and burn off some of your meal.  If you’re coming from the south, it is about 2.75 mile from the Avoca Park trail access.  A considerably longer walk, but a nice bike ride.   Of course, The Birch also has its own parking lot.

My first impression of The Birch was “this isn’t my kind of place.”  It looked fancy and clean, almost too clean, and had ONLY ONE television that I saw.  Don’t get me wrong.  It was nice, really nice; but felt like you had to remove your ball cap and tuck in your shirt while you were there.  We were greeted before we even got to the door by our server, who made us both feel welcome.  Suddenly we realized she doesn’t care if your shirt is tucked in or not, she just wants you to have a nice lunch and enjoy yourself.

It was a nice day so we decided to eat outside.  The Birch has a great patio.  It kind of felt like some of the places at a beach resort, minus the sounds and smells of the ocean.  Road noise from nearby Wooster Pike is discernible, but not obtrusive.  The menu tends to lighter, healthier fare: salads, appetizers, sandwiches and vegetable sides.  There is also a daily soup which does not appear on the menu.  They offer a relatively broad wine list, as well as four beers on draft.  There were no fries, cheese sticks or fried pickles.

Interested in something a little different, George ordered the Charcuterie and Cheese Board for $16.  It had three types of cold sausage, three types of cheese, three pickles, two types of mustard, a pat of butter, a few spiced peanuts—and a bowl of French bread slices to go with everything.  All was enjoyed except the uncased red pork sausage, which was spiced just a bit heavier than George could handle.  (John, being made of sterner stuff, found it delightful.)  Service was prompt, professional and friendly.  With two pints of Loose Cannon IPA (@$6), George’s total bill was $29.96—plus tip.

John chose the burger.  The server couldn’t be talked into including fries with that, but she did add bacon.  It came with a leafy, light salad, which was good (we know we should eat more stuff like that), but kitchen chips with Cajun seasoning would have been better.  The burger, ordered medium, was a good-sized sandwich with tomato, pickles, onion and their special sauce, which was not Thousand Island dressing.  You just have to pause after the first bite to feel the flavors and enjoy the moment.  The juices start dripping and then everything comes together for what might be the best burger ever. And mine was cooked perfectly medium.  WOW!  The only downside was another $12 burger.

While we were happy with the food, the beer and the atmosphere, we both felt the place was a tad pricey, and seemed to cater to more of an upscale clientele than the average, casual Trail user.  Maybe a few local softball teams and happy hour groups will start going regularly to give it a little attitude.  That’s really the only thing it is lacking, so we give it a 4 out of 5 bells rating.  Excellent food and a nice place; it just doesn’t have that “place-to-be” feel—yet.  Give it time. The Birch is definitely worth a visit. 

The Birch
702 Indian Hill Road, Terrace Park OH
Phone:  513/831-5678
Website: thebirchtp.com
Hours: 11 am to 9 pm Tues. through Sat.; closed Sun. & Mon.