Hamburger Mary’s to Change Name

by julie on November 5, 2010

Hamburger Mary’s is changing their name– again. Formerly the Universal Grill (and before that, Hamburger Mary’s), management has broken with the Hamburger Mary’s franchise and will get both a new menu and a new manager– and a new name.  The name change to Roxy’s, as well as menu changes, will happen over the next few weeks.  Gail Marlow, partner with the existing Hamburger Mary’s, announced the changes on both Facebook and at a launch party last night.

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  • http://cincinnaticocktails.com Craig Hochscheid

    I think that I’ve seen this movie before….

  • Dave R

    Ugh. Didn’t they learn the first time?

    Let’s hope that Roxy’s is better that Universal Grill.

  • Bernard

    The name is unimportant…I just hope they get some quality control in the kitchen!!

  • Herbie

    I agree Bernard.
    Man. I hope they can get it together. The food has been mediocre at Hamburger Mary’s & Universal Grill. Worse than that, the service has been terrible. Unattentive, rude waiters, wrong orders and attitude when asked to fix them. Maybe fresh start number 3 will work.
    “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana

  • Vendy

    My fiancee was excited to see the Hamburger Mary’s name come back, but neither of us are surprised things have been rocky. They have zero quality control in the kitchen (my burgers tended to come out almost raw or almost charred if you order “medium rare”… seldom correct), and the staff and the management were often rude about any issues brought to them. Maybe the new start will help, but seeing as the same owner is involved, I’m not hopeful.

  • Not me

    I don’t care what they call the place, the prices were just “bit” too high.

  • never respond to emails

    hamburger mary’s is a mess. i have emailed them repeatedly from their website and nobody will ever return an email. My friends have repeatedly emailed them about hosting a private party and, once again, nobody from management would return the emails. They don’t respond to their facebook page. I emailed them just a few days ago and nobody will return an email from the restaurant. So, we ended up taking one party of 220 people to Kentucky, another party of 80ish people to Oakley, and our annual holiday party of over 400 to a venue in downtown cincinnati. We have given up on hamburger mary’s. It’s sad because the food is pretty good and the burgers are excellent. the prices are pretty decent as well.

    • http://BelowZeroLounge.com Nigel

      We wish everyone good luck downtown. Anyone looking to host a party please remember we have ample space and oppertunity at Below Zero Lounge.

      • Seriously?

        Seriously Nigel?

        I can say this as someone who’s not affiliated with ANY bar, Below Zero has the most unfriendly staff in the city. The ONLY Reason Below Zero is around is so Nigal and JC can make a buck. They could care LESS about anyone else…..it’s only about them making money…..at everyone else’s expense.

        From their attack on every other bar owner in competition to Nigel standing outside watching as people drive past to see if their place “looks fun,” which it hardly ever does…….this isn’t the place our community should support.

        • Anonymous

          How about when someone makes a comment about the staff at BZ Nigel just ignores it 

  • I agree

    i absolutely agree. I could never get into contact with the management of hamburger marys and finally gave up trying to host a private party there several times per year.

  • insulted

    As a gay guy – everything about this place was insulting. A complete stereotypical dump. Sorry — but I expect a gay-owned business to treat its gay customers (and everyone else for that matter) with a lot more class and respect.

    My partner and I can go just about anywhere else in this town and get better food, better service and a better overall experience. This place was run like a drunken circus — and I think i deserve much better than that if i’m going to spend my money somewhere.

  • Dr Chunky

    What’s the new name – Beef Eaters? :P

  • double trouble

    Why do people expect stellar service from dykes? The food is pretty good, the drinks are pretty good, as well. But the service is deplorable and like others have stated, I could never EVER get anybody to return my emails when I also wanted to pay for a private party. I completed the contact form and sent emails to info@hmcincinnati.com over and over and not a single person would respond to my emails. We ended up having to choose a different location for the party. In this economy, I am not sure why businesses fail to respond to emails especially when we can easily get 150 people into the restaurant and bar area for several hours. Hamburger Mary’s… good riddance to bad rubbish.

  • http://www.howardmcewen.com Howard

    Agree with most everyone on the food. Terrible. My wife ordered a salad and the avocados were brown and the lettuce was just about to turn brown-wilted and limp. It was a fundraiser so she didn’t want to make a fuss and just pushed it away. I ordered chicken. Thank god I had water to force it down.

  • Greg

    I hope it does well in the new reincarnation. It is really only one of a few fun gay places to go in your city. Adonis works my perm.

  • Downtown Jeff

    You think maybe these people are in the wrong business? Terrible food, service, and the place is just dirty. Perhaps the owners should consider another career. Seriously.

  • Rick W

    My partner and I were brave enough to retry Hamburger Marys when they came back to Cincinnati. During our visit we found the service worse than anything we had ever seen. Our waiter seemed to be more into flipping his hair and shaking his ass around than waiting on tables. Finally after 25 minutes after we were seated our drinks came to the table and then we finally ordered food. Realizing the time it took for our drinks we were only hoping that our food would be a bit quicker. We were there another 30 minutes, waiter still flaunting, first round of drinks down to ice cubes and finally food shows up and was incorrect of what we ordered. We didn’t say anything as we just wanted to finish our food and go. Second round of drinks took another 15 minutes to get there and our food was already finished. We actually sucked on our ice cubes for drinks while eating. The last round of drinks sat on the table as we proceeded to leave. If they hire gay guys to wait on tables at the new place I would hope that they don’t hire pretty boys that just want to flaunt. Hire some people that know how to give great customer service.

  • i gave up too

    I also used their website to contact management in hopes to have a private party two Mondays ago but nobody ever returned my emails. I sent two emails, one via the online form and one directly to the email address listed on the website. A parry of 70 people a Monday night…which restaurant wouldn’t want the business? But after two attempts and never an inkling of a response I had to choose another restaurant. Also, the men’s bathroom is disgusting. The idea of a trough is repulsive, the stall door lock is broken, and the soap dispenser rarely works. They renovated it nicely then failed to maintain it. As for the food…the turkey burgers are wonderful. The kibee burger was my favorite and the bird of paradise is excellent. As for as the service goes…forget it! It’s hit or miss all the time. I was there last Monday night and the only server was the bartender. people were in the bar area removing decorations but provided no assistance to the sole bartender. Even though the service is So-so, I still like the food and enjoy going there. I wish that someone had returned my emails about hosting our monthly party (we are local educators that go out once per no.th on a Monday) because we prefer to spend money at gay friendly places but since nobody ever would respond we ended up going someplace else. When Roxy establishes their website I will email the new management and hopefully we can get our food and drink on Monday.

  • Bookstax

    Well, from the comments above, which mirror my exact thoughts of my three visits to this place– one for each of the respective names– it looks like they need WAY more than a menu/name change. In my opinion, there are just too many better options to give it another chance. I’ll not likely try it despite its reinvention…

  • Gr8Dane

    My partner and I moved to Cincy about 2 years ago from Atlanta. We had our favorite gay restaurants: Agnes & Muriel’s, Cowtipper’s, and Roxx. Anyone familiar with those establishments know that gay restaurants work if done properly. We moved to Cincy for work, and love the town contrary to popular native downplay, and were delighted when Mary’s opened. We must be blessed, lucky, or both because we’ve never had a bad experience there, and my Princess Di burger has always been fantastic. I’m very sad to see Mary’s go, as there seems to be little gay establishments as it is in Cincy for town that does have a visible gay population. Hopefully Roxxy’s will be more like Roxx in Atlanta ( though THAT Roxx is more popular with the Bears ), which isn’t a bad thing! So long Mary’s, we hardly knew ya :(

  • Dade4play

    Why do people with little experience try to do the restaurant thing. The focus for success is one work: Consistency. It’s not rocket science, but everyone needs to be on the same page or it won’t work. I refer you to the original Carol’s. The food was basic, good, consistent, a good value and the owner/manager is visible and cares. The drinks are there when you order them, a consistent pour and a good value. This city, and especially downtown is primed for the potential of a decent burger, salads, pastas, and some rotating creative entrees. I just don’t get it. If you’re not a people person, it is the WRONG business for you. lonnie

  • Michael

    Their new name should be “Sorry, Closed for Business” – Since day one they’ve run their own business into the ground. At least the new name is accurate… Roxy’s, service, food and business practices… all on the ROCKS.

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  • hoo hah

    ate once after it re-opened. mediocre food, slow service. I assume that was one of the owner’s sitting in a back booth drinking white wine and socializing while the waitstaff floundered?

    Went back once and after waiting a few minutes at the host station he came up to us so he could flash his i-phone at us to announce the kitchen closed at nine. period. end of story. Jabba the Hut was STILL sitting in the back booth. She couldn’t be bothered to trundle over and inquire of us. What a shame and embarrasment to the gays.

  • Semi-Regular

    Sorry to see this happen again, after having been to other HM’s and loving them. The concept is certainly good, and a great idea. It’s the follow-through that failed. I eventually came to think of HM’s in Cincinnati as just “another bar” and appreciated and like it for what it was. I will say, on the positive side, that food was mostly good for what I ordered, and one bartender in particular was great! He shined above everyone else on service and made the best drinks in town. I do hope that a lesson has been learned, and that the new kick off goes well. I would like to remain a customer. Messages to old/new/whatever management: 1) LISTEN to your customers. 2) Your online presence is an excellent tool to attract customers to your establishment, not to be viewed as a chore.

  • bye bye Marys

    Mary’s was fun but the one thing that was lacking was the website and email communication. I tried thrice to email and all 3 times I never received a response. While dining there awhile back I asked to speak with the manager and I was informed that, “no manager was on duty tonight” and that was the final straw for me. It’s very difficult to patronize a business when “no manager is on duty” and all I wanted was some information on hosting our company holiday party at the bar. But, because no manager was on duty we have chosen Palomino’s to host our party. The burgers are very good and most of the other food is very good. The service is simply horrible but poor service is a reflection of poor management…but remember, “there is no manager on duty tonight.”

  • bye bye Marys

    Please don’t get rid of your bleu boy burger and add some gluten free menu items.

  • bye bye Marys

    Oh, and don’t let Joan dress up as that’s enough to keep anybody away.

  • John

    For what it’s worth, while the service was sometimes slow and on more than one occasion they seemed to be out of something I thought I might want to order, I’ve never had a 100% negative experience at Mary’s and always enjoyed having it as a relatively cheap/relaxed option nearby I could hit up as a default lunch or dinner spot. I hope Roxy’s retains the veggie burgers and other vegetarian options. I don’t know how I can go so often and never have a bad experience when others seem to have such consistently horrific experiences. Maybe it’s expectations?

  • a few things

    Please return your emails. I could never get anybody to return emails no matter what I did.

  • Jenny

    After all the remarks above, I too have had several bad experiences there. It got so bad I quit going. Hopefully the new Hamburger Mary’s (when it opens) will put the old Mary’s to shame.

  • what is below zero

    I will never ever go back to Hamburger Mary’s or Roxy or whatever the new name is. Horrible service, the climate is a either too hot or too cold, the owners sit and watch and then come out of the kitchen all grubby. The cooks should NEVER EVER leave the kitchen area…ever.
    What is Below Zero? I see Nigel posted a comment about Below Zero…what is that?

  • eden_pure

    Below Zero is a bar in over the rhine. it’s pretty nice and has a lot of vodkas but no potato vodkas at all so that sorta sux.
    I enjoyed Hamburger Mary’s and enjoyed their food. True, the service was sometimes a disaster and it’s very true about nobody ever returning emails. I tried a few times to ask about gluten free items and never heard back. Since I never heard back from my email I quit going for awhile. Once the turkey burger was placed back on the menu I immediately resumed going to Hamburger Mary’s because the turkey burger is good. The other food is pretty good too it’s just the service simply sux and to see the manager sitting on her ass in the back of the restaurant is quite disheartening. Also, why does the management allow the kitchen personnel to enter the dining area? That’s gross. Finally, why is it that when we are eating late at night that the help starts to stack up the chairs on top of the tables and rush us out of the restaurant. Overall, it’s a nice hamburger place with good food and on a scale of 1-10 with one being the lowest and ten being the highest, I would rate it a solid 4 on service, a solid 10 for food selection, a 7 for food quality (sometimes the lettuce was wilted, brown, or just nasty and the tomatoes were sometimes bad), a solid 7 for atmosphere. As for the bar area goes… a complete flop. As for Dirty Mary’s… a solid 8.
    Overall: a 5

    • Matt

      Below Zero has 3 potato vodkas for sure that I know of, and another that is a grain/potato blend

  • Phyllis

    Why do people have to post such hateful personal attacks about this place? Come on, do you really have to stoop that low to bring someone down? I am so disappointed in the gay community for posting personal attacks on the owners of a gay establishment. Do you really think we can’t see that most of these comments are thinly veiled attacks from former employees that were let go for just what they complain about in their postings? How about trying something novel and not be the stereotype we all hate to be a part of?

  • eden_pure

    I am not a former employee, just a former patron of that eatery. I will try it again. But I have read the comments and I don’t see any personal attacks at all. The gay community has always been highway robbery worldwide. Everything is more expensive, more grand, and more a mess. It’s the same no matter where you go. My only concern is that the service is horrible and like others have posted…nobody will respond to an email. How can any business be successful if emails are not returned within 24-36 hours?

  • Roxy’s Management

    We appreciate everyone’s comments and concerns and are working diligently to improve the overall customer experience. As far as the lack of response to emails, we have had some issues with our website and email addresses and apologize for any emails that have gone unanswered. We do have a new website: http://www.roxyscincy.com and currently you may send any emails to info@roxyscincy.com. We also are on facebook and update both our fan page and business page on a daily basis with updates and information. We hope you will give Roxy’s a visit!

  • A2Z construction

    This place is a disaster, read the posts, I can tell you first hand! my company remodeled this place from the ground up, only to be shafted at the end by Mary Onken, Owner, she did not pay usstill owes us $20.500.00 as well as several other venders and suppliers. Mary Onken totaly promised to pay up but never did, those at marys/dirtymary/roxy/whatever/ are shameless liars,the poorest excuse for human beings. There are no if ands or buts about it, these people are bad news! This new name will not change anything, this bar will fail.

  • David

    I am NOT a former employee… just a former customer who has given up on this place. “Phyllis” sounds to me, like the on again, off again manager that everyone talks about that sits in the back booth of the restaurant. Management sets the pace for how the staff conducts themselves. Seems like this woman has never really taken any responsibility for anything that has gone wrong here. The public just sees her either sitting in the back booth half asleep, or sitting at the bar getting drunk and embarrassing herself. Its the inconsistencies that is going to cost this place to sink like the titanic.

  • Wont be back

    I won’t be going back to this place regardless of what the dump is called. This location is worse than the las Vegas location. When I sent an email questioning whether or not peanut oil is used anywhere in the kitchen I never received a response. If the management cannot respond to a simple request that could cause catastrophic results if consumed then I prefer to eat elsewhere knowing that I wont die. The service and staff are simply a mirror image of those that lead and that’s not much to say the least.

  • kosmik ray

    bad food? you gotta be kidding. I had the best quesedillas on earth there at halloween, and it wasn’t a planned stop. I’ll never order them again anywhere else.

  • John

    Ate at Roxy’s the other day finally. Menu seems to be more or less like the former HM’s but possibly abridged. Still had what I wanted (veggie burgers and sweet potato fries) and it was still good and relatively cheap and I will still return the next time I need a cheap casual dinner.

  • http://www.whatreallyhappenedtometronation.com I hear

    I hear George Crawford had to close Metronation because no one wanted to shop there anymore and hear him go on….and on….and on….and on…..

    You would think someone with a walmart type local business would understand some kind of customer service. I mean seriously, Metronation v. High Street is like The Dollar Store v. Tiffany’s.

  • pretry decent

    I ate there the other day and it was ok. The hamburger was under cooked but it was still tasty. The only problem is the one item labeled as gluten free is NOT gluten free because of the bread.
    The drinks are good but it’s quite obvious that the water is non-filtered. I will bring my own water next time.

  • HSK

    Went to Roxys two days ago for lunch. Food was good and service was great. My waiter was very attentive but it was past the normal lunch crowd. Wasn’t treated any differently because I was a straight women. Had the BLT&A on Pretzel roll. Was a huge lunch portion with a ton of bacon! I plan on going back to try the burgers!

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