Comments on: Review: Skyline

By: MikeInAZ

MikeInAZ — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:50:37 +0000

I used to “frequent” the Clifton location when I attended UC back in the early to mid-80′s. There was always a waiting line to get in after the bars closed on Friday or Saturday night. I used to be a doorman and bartender at Burgundy’s which was a large (1800 person capacity) night club on the corner of Calhoun and Vine Streets (I see on Google Earth this is not an empty lot) and we used to go to Skyline after many a night of working and/or drinking. My “usual” was 4 cheese coney’s, 1 bowl of chili, and a carton of milk. I remember we used to be amazed that the “secret hot sauce” on the tables would clean a tarnished penny if you dropped some sauce on it. Took me many years to figure out that this was just Tabasco I have never been back since college (I now live in Arizona) but I crave it. I even have cravings for White Castle. I had a friend who got me some canned Skyline chili when she went to Ohio. It was pretty much some really greasy crap! It was just not the same as the homemade chili they made on site in the stores back then. I presume now-a-days that the chili is all canned and simply heated in the stores. But, I presume that White Castle and Skyline always tasted really good when you were drunk. I don’t recall ever eating either if I had not been drinking

By: BawB

BawB — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:22:27 +0000

I first tried Skyline in college, my girlfriend (now wife) is a native of Cincy and she was so excited to have me try it. I think I took about half the cheese off of it the first time, because I thought there was way too much. A few years later I am living in Cincinnati, I go get a 3-way and when they give it to me I think, “there’s barely any cheese on this thing!” That is when I knew I was firmly in the grasp of Cincinnati Chili!

By: CincyCapell

CincyCapell — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:02:24 +0000

I like skyline. LOVE Camp Washington. Don’t like Gold Star (too much cinnamon), and the worst chili in the area is definitely Delhi Chili (YUCH!)

It’s funny, all of the Skyline chili comes out of a central commissary, but I swear that certain locations are better than others. Ludlow Ave & Covington by the I-75 bridge are amongst the best.

By: Coco

Coco — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:03:45 +0000

we are a non-cincinnati chili family… between the upstate NY husband who nearly faints at the thought of chili on a hotdog – that was likely boiled? and the child who refuses all things tomato saucey or oniony… While I’ve had it now and then over my life, without the immunity of having it regularly – it’s just not on our plates!

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:08:55 +0000

I’ve lived in Cincinnati for 9 years and still can’t get used to the spicy sweet taste of the chili. I’ll down a cheese coney now and then but there is no possible way I will eat a three-way.

Not only does a three way include an obscene amount of chili sauce, but the overdose of cheese-like substance and watery, overcooked noodles is just sickening. No thanks.

By: eroslane

eroslane — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:35:42 +0000

I found the one comment interesting, which compares it more to a spagetti sauce than chili. It kind of is when you think about it! *ponder* *ponder*

By: David Esrati

David Esrati — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:08:56 +0000

And Fred would order the kosher chilli with cheese?
I love a 4 way with onions-
but love a skyliner or two on the side (skipping the skyliner is a diet thing)
Would love it if they discovered a real all beef hotdog- that isn’t the size of my pinky. I’d gladly pay more for a real sausage sized hot dog with the fixins.

By: Tom S

Tom S — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:44:48 +0000

I’m from Texas. I’m passionate about chili. I can remember back in the days of the Oilers-Bengals rivalry when the Houston Chronicle would run an article mocking all things Cincinnati, starting with the chili. “It’s this thin stuff. They serve it over … get this … spaghetti!”

My chili is nothing but meat and spices thickened by masa harina, but that being said I have to say I love Cincinnati-style chili (and I’ve yet to host a fellow Texan who doesn’t). True, I think of it as a really interesting Greek spaghetti sauce, but what I mostly think of it is that it’s damned good. I can’t imagine a world without it.

When Empress is “on” it’s my favorite. Love Skyline, and Camp Washington is my favorite standalone parlor (though I have yet to try the west side fave Price Hill Chili, and there are many I’d like to try).

Cincinnati-style Chili (along with Goetta) are, in my opinion, two contributions to the general well-being and happiness of people. People who like Cincinnati-style Chili and Goetta, anyway.

By: Netlurker

Netlurker — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:11:26 +0000

Not a native (but from Dayton, OH so I had tried it before coming to Cincinnati.) I like Skyline and Gold Star. At Skyline I always get the (vegetarian) black bean burrito because it is their only veg entree. If I am in the mood for a 3-way I go to Gold Star since they have a veg chili. The Goldstar veg chili isn’t the same but the spices are so it hits the spot.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:12:30 +0000

I’m not from Cincinnati but I lived there for 2 years and I loved it! I bought some in the cans on Ebay awhile ago and add all the fixings to it at home but it just isn’t the same of course.

I like the vegetarian burrito, the chili burrito, and a four way with the rice and beans mix but no meat.