Restaurant Review: Herb & Thelma's, Covington

Cincinnati Magazine recently came out with their list of the 45 Best Burgers in Cincinnati and I reprinted the list along with my experiences and blog posts of the burgers.

Coming in at #18 on the list is Herb & Thelmas Tavern in Covington. It’s on Pike across the interstate from the old Jillian’s. It looks a bit sketch – it’s got really goofy food paintings on the front that don’t look like real food. In fact – the windows are boarded over so I’ve driven by it a million times and didn’t really know if it was actually still open. But when I saw it on the list – I knew we had to go!

So I grabbed the coworkers and they were so excited! Jak happily obliged me with the obligatory mouth open picture. It’s who I am – I just can’t help it.

Their menu is extensive – I mean – it takes up this whole page! The #18 burger on the list is the Double-Cheeseburger so that’s what I had to try. I was intrigued by the Italian Sausage but the bartender/server/cook said I had to do the burger first.

For a small bar – and when I say small – I mean itty bitty tiny – they have a good drink selection – and include the locals like Rhinegeist.

They also have a great selection of Cincinnati Beer History – bottles, steins and more adorn the shelves and cabinets around the bar.

Along with this Indian standing guard int he corner…and yes – I knew you could see me. So sneaky.

I loved the can of Coke I got – I am an adventurer – I’m always dragging the work crew to some new place they’ve never been. Poor things.

So here’s my Double-Cheeseburger ($6) – and let me tell you – that is Land ‘o Lakes cheese – so we’re off on the right foot. There are no frills here if you hadn’t guessed it. There are literally maybe 8 tables in the whole place. You go up to the bar to order and get your food and pay your bill.

It was a good burger – very homemade in flavor and texture. It was really busy too for such a tiny place and I was so surprised that there was nobody smoking inside. I know it’s the law – but it’s not always held up in NKY.

And when I said it was small – I wasn’t kidding. This is the kitchen. It’s literally a grill in the corner behind the bar.

Why Should You Go? Well – this place has AdventureMom written all over it – cheap, great burgers in NKY! I liked the burger and $6 is pretty good for a homemade burger. (They must have raised their price since the article came out – it noted $5.50.) I’d like to go back and try that sausage sandwich as well and since it’s so close to downtown – I’ll likely be stopping by! The Double Cheeseburger is good – but if you’re not really hungry – stick with the single – it’s a decent size on its own.