the first thing you need to know about paula's is that unless a) you are very lucky or b) you go there really early or really late, you will have to wait for a seat. this is especially true if there are more than 2 people in your party. there were six of us so we ended up splitting up in order to not have to wait forever.
it's worth the walk and the wait though because the food is damn good. the menu is limited but all the food is fresh and tasty. all the bread is from shadeau. everything is made to order. they make some (maybe all?) of their own dressings and use delicious meats and cheeses, not just regular deli meats. i think they roast their own chicken or ham (or someone does for them).
my regular paula's order is either the cuban (not exactly authentic but the best you are going to get in cincinnati) or the reuben. if i am in a salad mood i go with the chef or paula's favorite. on this most recent trip i decided to go with the seven minute burger. paula's has had it on the menu for a while and proudly touts it as cincinnati's best burger so clearly i had to find out if this was true.
i got the burger with american cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. it was excellent. juicy and flavorful and the bun was so yummy. i think i actually could have gone with a 6 minute burger because it was pretty well done but it was still juicy so i didn't mind. big and filling and i was very satisfied with my choice.
i would rank it among cincinnati burgers at this point but the thing is, my personal cincinnati burger rankings are currently in flux. recently i had a burger at terry's that just was not the quality i have come to expect there. it was overcooked, dry, and not as flavorful as it should be, and the bun was overly buttery. and i have also had a couple burgers at arthur's in the past month or so that have been wonderful. perfectly cooked, juicy, big, delicious. so i cannot give you a definitive ranking on paula's but i can give you:
liz's cincinnati burger rankings for march-june 2009:
- arthur's
- paula's
- maribelle's
- zip's
- terry's (gasp)
- oakley pub and grill
- country cruz'en
- gordo's
anyway, paula's is excellent and you should check it out. the food is awesome and very reliable, service is fast (if not always especially friendly), and it's reasonably priced. it's a weekday breakfast and lunch only place though, fyi.
11 comments:
"liz's cincinnati burger rankings for march-june 2009" is clearly missing one the great contenders: Quatman's Cafe!!!
And here's you Liz - I present an open invitation to come and join Steve Miller and the gang and I at Quatman's this Monday June 22nd, 2009 at 6PM. Be there or be square.
My standard is the pastrami with the special sauce and I always try and go on Tuesdays so I can get the chicken and wild rice soup with lots of mushrooms!
alex: oh man, i wish i could step up to the challenge but i already have plans mon night! quatmans... i will have you one day.
heather: i haven't tried the chicken and wild rice... sounds yummy.
Have you been to Main Street Cafe in Newtown? It's owned by the same family as Zip's but the burgers are better and the menu is more extensive. I think it gets overlooked because, you know, newtown.
This is the second time I've heard Shadeau bread mentioned in the past 6 days. I will have to check it out. Have you ever bought bread from them Liz?
They have the best vegetable soup I've had downtown on Thursdays!
i have not been to main st. cafe, i will have to add it to the list.
shadeau = delicious! you have to try it.
You know, the last 2 burgers I've had at Arthurs have been pretty much perfect, too. And just to add another place to your list, try Zola's in Mainstrausse. I wonder if you'll get as much flack from the Terry's lovers as I did from my lackluster experience there?
I still contend Anderson Township Pub (ATP) has the best burgers in the area. I thought Quatmans was kind of ordinary but I seem to be in the minority there. Terrys was just a big sloppy mess served in a sty.
the potato chips dipped in the special sauce (which I think is a combo of mustard and mayo)= delicious.
I second the vote for Zola. Great selection. I had a terrible experience at Terry's and will still go to Zola before I step back into Terry's.
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