Montgomery Inn The Boathouse
A Cincinnati institution famed for its award-winning BBQ ribs and breathtaking Ohio River views, offering a classic dining experience.
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Montgomery Inn The Boathouse
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A Cincinnati institution famed for its award-winning BBQ ribs and breathtaking Ohio River views, offering a classic dining experience.
"The ribs are so soft and actually falling off the bone - the best I've ever had!"
Dine with a View
Visit during good weather to enjoy the patio overlooking the Ohio River for a memorable experience.
Celebrate Special Occasions
The Boathouse is ideal for anniversaries, birthdays, and romantic dates with its ambiance and views.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Barbecue
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
World-Famous Barbecue Ribs
Indulge in award-winning ribs, incredibly tender and flavorful, falling off the bone with a signature tangy sauce.
Spectacular Riverfront Views
Dine with a breathtaking panorama of the Ohio River, especially vibrant during sunset or fireworks.
Iconic Saratoga Chips
Experience the beloved thick kettle chips, a Cincinnati tradition, perfectly crisp and meant for dipping in BBQ sauce.
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Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Dine with a View
Visit during good weather to enjoy the patio overlooking the Ohio River for a memorable experience.
Celebrate Special Occasions
The Boathouse is ideal for anniversaries, birthdays, and romantic dates with its ambiance and views.
Don't Miss the Chips
Locals rave about the Saratoga chips; they are a must-try, especially when dipped in their famous BBQ sauce.
Request Top Servers
Ask for servers like Erin or Mr. Hiko for exceptional, personalized service.
Tips
from all over the internet
Dine with a View
Visit during good weather to enjoy the patio overlooking the Ohio River for a memorable experience.
Celebrate Special Occasions
The Boathouse is ideal for anniversaries, birthdays, and romantic dates with its ambiance and views.
Don't Miss the Chips
Locals rave about the Saratoga chips; they are a must-try, especially when dipped in their famous BBQ sauce.
Request Top Servers
Ask for servers like Erin or Mr. Hiko for exceptional, personalized service.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Montgomery Inn The Boathouse is celebrated for its iconic, tender ribs and stunning Ohio River views, making it a Cincinnati staple. While many praise the flavorful barbecue and excellent service, a few reviewers note inconsistencies in food quality and suggest the interior may be showing its age.
"Hands down the best ribs I have ever eaten. I usually avoid ribs because they are high fat and high calorie and whatnot, but these were so famous I had to try.
WOW - so soft and actually falling off the bone. They didn't even seem very fatty at all.
My husband absolutely loves! That has had quite a lot of them and he said these were the best he has ever had as well.
That barbecue sauce was also so unique and flavorful so I totally see why this place is known for its barbecue ribs!
He ordered the 2-items combo item where we got the grilled chicken, ribs, side of broccoli, sweet potato.
I absolutely love how the broccoli was steamed and not fried or roasted with oil or anything like that. It was so perfectly soft and tender and yummy.
Sweet potato side dish was also delicious. Perfectly soft and creamy and it gave it that delicious honey butter on the side which was unbelievable.
I thought the dessert husband really wanted to try that Chocolate Volcano Cake and WOW. It was hard to pick one item on the dessert menu because everything seems so delicious but really glad we went with this.
The chocolate cake was half and warm and gooey and to yummy and went perfectly well the ice cream on the side.
They actually served ice cream from Graeter's which we were very grateful for. Apparently they usually only give the vanilla, but the server knew we were visiting and celebrating our anniversary so he added an extra scoop of the special Midnight Snack.
What a beautiful dessert!"
Haylee Jane Monteiro
"I had a great dining experience with my family at this location. The food was great and the service was even better (shout out to our server, Ron). Make sure to put in a reservation, because it is a BUSY location. The view is amazing with the water sitting right there. You will enjoy the ambiance, for sure!"
W.A. Gordon
"For world famous, award winning ribs, I found them to be rather uninspired. They are simply oven roasted. Though cooked competently and with a lovely glazed sauce, it's nothing you can't do at home for 1/4 the price. I was really hoping for something wood smoked and kinda shocked it wasn't. 🤷♀️
The duck however was excellent and memorable. Perfectly cooked with a crisp skin. Delicate and savory.
Coleslaw makes or breaks BBQ for me and their's was outstanding.
The bartender made me an "old fashion" which was a rocks glass filled to the top with Buffalo Trace and a cherry in it. I was hammered. Lol 👍
The best part of my evening was our table location. Out on the patio overlooking the Ohio River. Couldn't be much better than that. And for dessert, an awesome fireworks display from the baseball stadium. I highly recommend the outside seating."
Phillip Simmer
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The restaurant is world-famous for its tender, award-winning barbecue ribs and its iconic Saratoga chips.
Reservations are recommended, especially during peak seasons like summer and holidays, as it can get very busy.
Visiting during good weather is ideal to enjoy the outdoor patio with its spectacular views of the Ohio River.
The Saratoga chips are a must-try, and the steamed broccoli and creamy sweet potato with honey butter are also highly recommended.
Yes, it's considered a great place for special occasions, dates, and celebrations due to its ambiance and river views.
The Chocolate Volcano Cake served with Graeter's ice cream is a decadent and highly recommended dessert.
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Saratoga chips may have been first introduced in Saratoga Springs, New York, but the chips made their way down to Cincinnati in a big way — in such a big way, in fact, that many locals regularly rant and rave about where to get the best in town. When all is said and done, many locals would argue that the Montgomery Inn Boathouse has the best saratoga chips in the city. If you're wondering what in the world saratoga chips are, they're thick kettle chips that are designed to be dunked in BBQ sauce.
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925 Riverside Drive, DowntownWorld famous for its ribs, Montgomery Inn has been a staple in Cincinnati for more than 60 years. Along with ribs, the Inn offers barbecued spring chicken, silver salmon, pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, salads and more, including everyone’s favorite: Saratoga chips served with their famous barbecue sauce. It’s a classic Cincinnati establishment with upscale vibes and excellent service.
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Montgomery Inn Boathouse, located within sight of the Theodore M Berry International Friendship Park, has a 700-seat capacity and a sweeping view of the river. The floor-to-ceiling windows take full advantage of the sights along the Ohio River, and the décor uses lots of wood, mirrors, sports memorabilia and the color red. After all, the Cincinnati Reds have thousands of avid fans in this town.
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Montgomery Inn is an iconic Cincinnati institution known for its mouthwatering barbecue ribs. These slow-cooked ribs are basted with a tangy and slightly sweet sauce, resulting in a tender and flavorful meat that falls off the bone. These signature ribs have garnered national acclaim, drawing visitors from far and wide, willing to experience and enjoy the flavours of this Cincinnati delicacy.
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World famous for its ribs, Montgomery Inn has been a staple in Cincinnati for more than 60 years. Along with ribs, the Inn offers barbecued spring chicken, silver salmon, pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, salads and more, including everyone’s favorite: Saratoga chips served with their famous barbecue sauce. It’s a classic Cincinnati establishment with upscale vibes and excellent service.
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Montgomery Inn Boathouse The Boathouse, situated at the east end of Sawyer Point, offers a nice scene of the church steeples and green hills across the river behind Bellevue and Dayton, plus Don Pablo's and Riverboat Row in Newport. They serve ribs and other meaty dishes to about 800,000 people a year. 925 Riverside Drive, Downtown, 513-721-7427.
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Montgomery Inn The Boathouse has an incredible view of the Ohio River, amazing service, and top-shelf cocktails making it a perfect venue for special occasions and dates. The ribs and chicken are well-cooked and juicy, slathered with a great sauce. Ribs are so tender they fall off the bones easily.
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Montgomery Inn at The Boathouse power has been restored & we are open for usual business hours. We look forward to seeing you and your guests this weekend!. Montgomery Inn Boathouse brings you into a whole new dimension that is unlike any other dining experience you will encounter in Cincinnati.
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Montgomery Inn BBQ: Visiting the original Montgomery Inn BBQ at the boathouse is a culinary and scenic experience. Their ribs are served with a sweet and tangy sauce that has since made them the “Ribs King” and a favorite among locals. Load up on their amazing BBQ flavored Saratoga chips,
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Montgomery Inn (Boathouse) – Situated about a half mile or so from downtown Cincinnati, the Montgomery Inn is THE place to go for ribs and barbeque in Cincinnati. A staple since 1951 the Montgomery Inn has hosted celebrities from Johnny Cash to Bob Hope to Brittany Spears over the years.
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1 Montgomery Inn Four locations, including one downtown, serve delicious fall-off-the-bone ribs smothered in trademark barbecue sauce. Try Big Ted’s Platter with pulled pork, sliced smoked brisket, famous spicy ribs and jalapeño corn cakes. (513) 721-7427; montgomeryinn.com
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Montgomery Inn Boathouse is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a great view. Every seat has a view of the Ohio River. The outside deck wraps around the building, and even on a cold day you can still enjoy the views from inside the spacious restaurant.
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If you like ribs, you definitely have to try Montgomery Inn ribs. And even if you, like me, aren’t a big rib person, you should still go to Montgomery Inn and try something with their barbecue sauce on it. The ribs are Toby’s favorite — cooked just right.
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– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (1,613 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)– Type of cuisine: American, Bar– Price: $$ – $$$– Address: 925 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1684– Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated Barbecue Restaurants in Cincinnati
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (1,604 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: American, Bar- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 925 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1684- Read more on Tripadvisor
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This restaurant has a delightful dinner schedule full of menu items that are sure to satisfy any hungry customer. Start off the night with pulled pork nachos, or go for the fried gulf shrimp Cantonese.
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Located directly on the Ohio River, Montgomery Inn The Boathouse features a variety of barbeque-style dishes that can be enjoyed with some scenic views. Website: Montgomery Inn The Boathouse
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For tasty barbecue, seafood, and meat cuisine, try out this restaurant. The starter plates make a good choice for the whole table. Have the pulled pork nachos or the chipotle barbecue wings.
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Go early to avoid the crowds at this moderately priced rib and BBQ restaurant. Its downtown boathouse location also affords a fantastic view of the river. Reservations recommended.
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They've also opened one on the river and call it the Boathouse. The food is the same great food as it was back in the day.
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