The Eagle OTR

It’s a soul food restaurant that doesn’t know it’s soul food. It’s soooooo good!

I have heard a LOT of hub bub about The Eagle in OTR and wanted to try it out.
My family and I (3 people), walked in and were seated at a table. What I didn’t know, was we were going to be seated at a Communal Table. These are tables where absolute strangers can sit with you or your family, while you waiting for food or eating. This was not a novel idea for someone who can viciously destroy food when very hungry. Besides the table and seating situation, the lighting and atmosphere were extremely dim. It was (for me) the equivalent to eating in the tv room… with the lights off… and a monster movie on. I could hardly see what I was eating.
The food was interesting. We had the fried chicken with the side of honey pepper sauce. Since this is an honest review, I have to tell the truth: «I have had better fried chicken». The chicken was fried, but lacked the lively flavor of herbs, marinade or even spices. Any place can «fry» chicken. It’s the flavor of the chicken, batter or coating that makes it stand out.
The honey pepper sauce was something new, and it was good. However, even adding that didn’t help the chicken. Also, the fries weren’t too bad; they were «okay».
Our waiter was not very present, as we only saw him a few times, which made flagging him down a bit of a challenge.
Our food was pricey, al a carte, and didn’t live up to the hype I’ve heard. I would recommend this restaurant to people in search of a casual, almost «Hipster-​like» atmosphere. But for anyone who values taste and flavor of true fried chicken, look elsewhere.

Had the best waitress Katie, had a big group and she was great ! She deserves a raise !!

My favorite hot chicken place to date. Great veggie options, too!
The honey is what sets this apart from many other chicken places and makes me so excited the Eagle will be opening in Louisville (woo!!!)

One word: YUMMMMMMMMM! Its reputation speaks for itself and yes, the fried chicken with local honey and hot sauce is as good as they say. When going, be sure that you factor in an hour wait time because they do not take reservations but they do a great job in seating you and moving the crowd in a quick fashion. By far my favorite sides that I think are a must for any chicken order are the fries (I love potatoes and they do them sweet justice) and the succotash. It is made from a cornucopia of local veggies and when it comes I go straight to it and it’s gone far before anything else. They have great service and an extremely casual dining experience, often sharing tables with strangers which all fits into the experience of The Eagle. You have many options while looking for a place to eat in OTR but be sure that at some point this is at the top of your list. Enjoy!

SO– I FINALLY got around to visiting the fabled «The Eagle OTR» today, and the best I can constructively say it «Meh»… I went around 2:30 in the afternoon, and there was plenty of seating, so I didn’t have that hassle, as so many talked about. I was greeted by 3 young women standing in the front. The young woman, who was the one I dealt with, was pleasant enough, but didn’t exactly envelope me in fine customer service either– the first «meh». The other 2 young women were a treat. One of them just stood there with a bored, semi-​sneer on her face, as if she’d rather be anywhere else, and the other one made no eye contact at all– neither one acknowledged me in any way– nor did ANY of the staff members who were milling around, come to think about it. I looked around the room and saw that the décor was at best, ODD– sort of an ill-​advised cross between «shabby chic» and industrial. I also noticed that while the noise level wasn’t loud as I’ve heard other reviewers complain of, the music wasn’t to my liking either, so I decided to order carry out and have a cocktail while they prepared it. I ordered the recommended half chicken, Mac n’ Cheese and Collard Greens.
I say this with absolutely NO snarkiness intended– the fried chicken, that I’ve heard others describe as some sort of «religious experience», was at best, adequate– It literally reminded me of fast food chicken I have had in the past: Popeye’s or Lee’s maybe? I couldn’t place it, but it definitely didn’t live up to the hype. The Mac N’ Cheese was a mixed bag– the cheeses and other flavorings they used were spot on and tasty, and the garlicky crumb topping was YUMMY! The only problem: The pasta was undercooked, The Collards were also a mixed bag– seasoned perfectly– a little vinegary (is that a word?) and a tad spicy too– just the way I like them– so bravo there. The only issue with them is that they were a bit undercooked for my taste. As I mentioned, I decided to have a cocktail (a Grey Goose & Cranberry) while I waited. I tasted it and it was extremely weak– I doubt that it even contained a full legal shot. I mentioned it to the waiter, and, instead of apologizing or offering to top it off, he simply said «It’s definitely not weak, I poured it myself» (Well that’s DIFFERENT! Nevermind). I finished my cocktail, they brought my food and check in the mean time, I paid and left– My curiosity is now satisfied, I’ve experienced «The Eagle OTR», and I don’t feel the need to ever do it again– not because I’m put off by it or anything, but just because it’s just not unique or special enough to warrant the relatively long walk from my place.
I’ll give them a 3– only because for the price point they charge, the food had BETTER be seasoned properly (it was), and cooked sufficiently (it wasn’t), PLUS, the service was lackluster at best. No one was overtly rude or unpleasant, but through their tepid and insincere smiles, they made it very clear that they thought they were just a tad prettier and shinier than I’ll ever be. I’ll part ways with them on that high note and stick to places up town.

Others go for the chicken but I can’t say no the Pork sandwich.
Pork is tender and condiments add heat and texture.
Collards or Maque Choux are awesome alternative to fries.

After hearing how FANTASTIC this was place was, let’s just say my expectations were high. SUPER HIGH – I was imagining leaping for joy after trying this chicken.
I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I grew up in the south and I have had the pleasure of trying A LOT of fried chicken. This chicken wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the most wonderful tasteful edible thing on Earth either.
Some of the sides were a hit or miss too. The collards were mediocre, mac & cheese too smoky and dry, and the sweet potato crock was a little too sweet for my taste. The spoonbread and fries though, hit the spot. I’d definitely go back just for them. Overall this place wasn’t terrible by any means, but it wasn’t wonderful either. It’s a quick fix for me if I am craving fried chicken.

I was kicking myself for like a year for not coming here sooner. It must have been two years ago, I was at the farmers market on Fountain Square, I bought two beautiful tomatoes from this nice gentleman and he gave The Eagle a plug. This was probably way before all of Cincinnati caught on to how good it is! I could’ve known it was great before everyone else did haha, I’m just happy I finally got around to trying it!
Part of the reason why I was nervous to go is because everyone I’ve spoken to that’s tried it say the wait is a long time, sometimes they quote over an hour. Finally, I made birthday plans with my parents and boyfriend to eat here on a Sunday morning. Initially I was nervous about planning for Sunday because I know a lot of people will be out to eat. I ran from my apartment to the restaurant, timed it out just perfectly so I arrived in a sweaty mess at 10:57. I waited in line with about 10 – 12 other people, and I ended up getting seated right away (score!). I was a little disappointed I couldn’t go further into the restaurant to see the space, we were sat right at the first table in the window. (I would love to know what the building was first, there was a wall of antique-​ish looking mailboxes in the wall.)
I would also love to explore more of the menu when I come back, the chicken sandwich looks amazing. But, of course, when you come in a big group you have to order a whole chicken to share! (They sell ¼, ½, etc.). I also wanted to get the bacon appetizer… Yes, it is just bacon!
More on the wait– I’ve heard from people that go in at 11PM on the weekend and get seated right away, and I’ve spoken to people that go at 6PM on a Monday, so it’s really a crap shoot what your wait might be. The good news is there’s a lot of local stuff to do nearby. If you’re a drinker, there’s a few bars around. There’s also plenty of quirky shops to visit.

First time in Cincy city and this place was the perfect welcoming into a new city! Delicious food, fantastic beer that makes you smile in bliss, and amazing down to earth service that made our experience the bees knees.
We kept things simple with their pork sandwich (yesYesYES!!!), mac and cheese, chopped salad, and probably the most tasty perfectly cooked maple bacon EVER. Bottom line, we’d definitely go back and highly recommend to try out :)
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#goodfood #beer #yummy #thebeesknees #adventure #roadtrip #ohio #otr #feelinggood #wheretonext

Wow. Is this place popular! Ice been meaning to try it for awhile now. But you either have to plan ahead and be there right when they open, or you have to wait for a table to open. I knew this Cincinnati trip would be busy and short. So I planned on arriving early. I met up with some family on 11a on a Saturday (of the busy summer Saturday’s that was surrounded by a race and a flea market). At three minutes til, there was already a line of about seven people. But everyone was seated quickly. They put the three of us at a large table for six. We were joined by another party shortly after and the whole restaurant really filled up. I loved that the table was spacious enough that we didn’t feel like we were dining with another group.
We each order a sandwich and sides to share. I went with the Chicken Sandwich. Since I asked for now bread, they served it in a bowl and really pilled it high with coleslaw! I have to say that I prefer my coleslaw on the sweeter side, but I loved everything else! The chicken was flavorful and had that crispy exterior you want. And it paired so nicely with the pickles and spicy sauce!
For our sides we chose Mac n Cheese and Spoon Bread. I personally was so-​so on the former. It had a smokey flavor, which was fine. But I wished that it had a sharper cheese to really give it a punch. The Spoon Bread, however, totally did it for me. I loved the corn kernels and all the flavor from the maple butter!
I can’t wait to visit this place again soon!

YASSS I think I died and went to heaven after I had a bite of the fried chicken sandwich. It’s huge and I was only able to eat half of it after stuffing myself with their five cheese Mac and Cheese and collard greens with vinegar. Our server was absolutely delightful and I can’t wait to go back and try the rest of their sides. I hear the cornbread is delicious. Knowing OTR and how trendy the area has become for craft beer, I think it’s great how they sell Miller lite for a low price and serve it in a challis. This is one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve EVER had.

The Eagle is a really awesome stop while in OTR. The food is decisively Southern– think fried chicken, grits, corn spoon bread, collards etc.
The fried chicken was delicious, crunchy and pretty on par with most fried chicken, but what put it over the top was the spicy honey dipping sauce. Wow, amazing.
We really loved the corn spoon bread– mildly sweet and fluffy. The collards were ok, nothing super exciting. We also got the Maque Choux is was our favorite side-​creamed corn, red bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, scallions! As an appetizer we got the southern greens and artichoke dip, yum… decadent with larger chunks of artichoke hearts in a creamy, warm dip served with hot tortilla chips.
Their beer list is great as well! And the ambiance was really cool, trendy and warm with a modern flair.
Will go back!

Call me a miser, but I hardly dish out the 5 stars ;) But I just had to for this one. I’ve been here a few times and this visit was taking my daughter & her bf out for her birthday lunch. The atmosphere is always cozy — day or night (I have a huge case of light fixture envy!). We each ordered the chicken by the piece and shared 3 sides — Mac n cheese, collards and French fries with aoli sauce. We had the brown sugar bacon for an app. Seriously — there is no wonder The Eagle typically has a wait for a table — it’s outstanding. Best fried chicken EVER — the spicy honey it is served with is delish. To really take it over the top, order a pitcher of their OTR Iced Tea to share (think Long Island Iced Tea). It’s not too sweet & packs a punch. Just go. Like now. You’re welcome!

Man where do I start! First off if you haven’t been here your missing out!
Food — This place hands down has the best chicken I have had in Cincinnati, maybe ever. Also sides are great Mac+cheese and sweet potato casserole for sure. The chicken is perfectly seasoned and they use good Amish chicken. I got the ¼ white which is a breast and wing but could have ate the half chicken.
Service– This is where this placed could use some improvement. Our server was never really anywhere to be found and it’s a pretty small place. Then we received the wrong side dish with our meal and did not Receive the correct side until the end of the meal. Also we didn’t have any silverware with our food. Our server was a very nice, but was just absent. I seen another server coming to other tables, so it could just toss up with service based on the server.
If you come on the weekend expect a wait. We had to wait around 3 hours after we were told only about a 2 hour wait, but it was worth it. They have a good feature that allows you to download an app on your smartphone to track your place in line. This allows you to leave the restaurant while you wait, which we did. Overall good place

Ask for the blackens shrimp (from the po boy) to be put on the cheesy grits (under the sides). I swear you won’t be disappointed. It’s probably the best shrimp & grits I’ve had in the city… and I LOVE shrimp & grits!!!

So, this place DESERVES five stars and from my experience, that’s all-​encompassing. I’ll break it down but the synopsis is as simple as it gets: the menu is straight-​forward and delivers the goods, the beer selection will please anyone, the music and atmosphere is welcoming even when it’s packed, and the customer service is absolutely incredible.
My experience started off with a cool conversation about the food and beer; Omy (my bartender/​server) was a friendly guy and, quite honestly, is the perfect bartender. Definitely the type of guy you’d like to have sit down next to you and share a beer with. He fits this place perfectly — not pretentious, just real.
I knew I was getting the fried chicken (I went with a quarter of dark meat — which included two legs and a crazy-​flavorful thigh for $ 6!) and, based on Omy’s suggestion, I added Cincinnati’s best macaroni & cheese, too. Everything was delicious (the macaroni and cheese is better than advertised — it’s one of my favorite dishes and this is sincerely one of the best I’ve had) and, again, even though they were slammed — it came out fast.
Sitting at the bar, I was privy to the hustling kitchen (my gosh they were working like a well-​oiled machine today!) and I happened to see the response of the staff to the lunch-​hour rush that blew me away…
In the midst of the madness, a woman waited probably 20 minutes for her pickup order and she was very, very vocal about her frustration. Sometimes restaurants do what they have to do to get these angry patrons their food and get them out the door as fast as possible. Sometimes the staff succumbs to the frustration and the pressure of the moment, forgetting that although this is just food — it’s also an experience that people are paying good money for. Sometimes that happens. This was DEFINITELY NOT one of those times.
Omy and Christy, the manager, talked to this woman at length — letting her vent, apologizing to her, treating her with kindness and sincerity. Not only did they do that but Christy went out of her way to pay for her entire meal (it wasn’t just a sandwich, I’ll say that…), even though she wasn’t particularly kind, understanding or grateful herself. I sat there and I just listened as the two of them exhibited more patience than I could have. I was blown away.
I made sure to mention to them that I respected what they did, just on a human level, but it pushed me — even more so than the incredible food — to post a review here.
Sometimes the food/​service industry can be thankless. I hope that this serves as one big thank you to The Eagle and their unbelievable staff.

We ordered the fried chicken sandwich (fried chicken breast, cole slaw, spicy mayo, house pickles) $ 9 and the maque choux (creamed corn, red bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, scallions) $ 4. The food was phenomenal! Our wonderful server told us that the fried chicken sandwich is the most popular and I can understand why! Popular sides are mac & cheese, spoonbread, and collards and they all looked delicious. I ordered the madtree which is a rasp-​chocolate stout and loved it.
The food is worth 5 stars and to top it off, the employees are worthy of 5 stars as well! Must try!

Love the atmosphere and the staff was even better! The chicken sandwich is huge and perfect! The mac n cheese-​very cheesy and creamy! More breadcrumbs the better — they added a perfect crunch!
My favorite was the spoon bread! Prob the BEST corn bread I’ve ever had!

After an afternoon at the University of Cinci a co worker and I were looking for somewhere to have some fried chicken, which is apparently a well known and favorite dish in Cincinnati. (Not surprisingly since it’s just across the bridge from Kentucky.)
Naturally when looking for a spot in a new town, we got on Unilocal and found this joint. The place was adorable and perfect from the moment we entered, the vibe of this place is perfect for laid back fun. I was surprised by the number of folks in here mid day on a Thursday, not just eating but also many beers deep.
The menu was small, which was great, usually bodes well, know what you do well and do it, but they didn’t have many sides or dips both of which would have been welcome additions without compromising the simple vibe of the place.
We got the fried chicken with white meat, and collared greens and coleslaw, all of which were good, but just not out of this world. I did greatly enjoy the collared greens with pulled pork, although we both felt it was a little too peppery. The chicken was perfect, not too greasy, but still amazingly flavorful and I really enjoyed the twist on the spicy honey.
I think having Cajun fries and Brussels sprouts as sides would have taken this meal to the next level. Also a complimentary biscuit goes a long way at a fried chicken joint.