montgomery inn

for those non-cincinnati readers out there, i should tell you that montgomery inn is a cincinnati food legend. cincinnatians are obsessed with three foods: montgomery inn ribs, graeter's ice cream (overrated), and skyline chili (yummy). they also like goetta which is a haggis-like meatparts-n-oats food item which i actually find quite delicious.

people in cincinnati will tell you that montgomery inn has the best ribs you will ever try. i was skeptical about this because i am a fan of smoked or barbecued ribs, which are delicious and tender and flavorful on their own, and i also prefer vinegar-based bbq sauces, and montgomery inn's is tomato-based. so i was not really that excited about montgomery inn and i did not feel like spending my money on going there.

well my office was having a retirement lunch for one of my coworkers on fri and that is where she wanted to have her meal. so i finally tried the legendary ribs. i'm sorry cincinnati, but i just don't see what all the fuss is about. their website says "world's greatest ribs." my ass. sadly, i would probably even prefer chili's ribs or somewhere like that over montgomery inn.

the ribs on their own were dry, bland, and overcooked. the ribs were smothered in sauce, and it was very sweet and tomatoey, not spicy or complex at all. i was not really disappointed, since they were exactly what i expected, but i have just had many better ribs. the sides were also boring. i had a baked sweet potato (yummy with cinnamon butter on top but nothing out of the ordinary and honestly, can you really mess up a sweet potato?), saratoga chips (which are thick cut potato chips that cincinnatians dip in bbq sauce and i just don't really like them), salad (iceberg literally drowning in dressing), and rolls (some were good and fresh and herbed, others were completely stale and gross).

service was a little hit or miss since we were a group of 82. they did their best though i think.

i don't think i would go back. i am a pretty big rib fanatic, and i think there are much better places to eat ribs in this city (such as pit to plate and walt's). however, this meal was free and got me out of the office for 2 hours so i was happy.