The Machine Room Grille

Batter up! And by batter, I mean if fried food is your thing, you’ve come to the right place. If you want a relaxed ballpark dining experience that is vastly superior to concession stand fare, but still reasonably affordable, this place will certainly do. Just make sure that you head straight for it as soon as gates open, otherwise, you can expect a bit of a wait.
The atmosphere is casual (after all, you’re at a baseball game), & the portion size is more than significant. I ordered the French Dip & couldn’t finish it.
The free refills on pop were a nice touch, before hit the reality check outside at concessions.
The wait staff is a mixed bag. They’re certainly friendly, but I think they need a better grasp on operations. They don’t seem at all sure of which tables they’re going to with orders & screwed up my order. Service was fairly quick once seated.
While waiting for a table, you can play pool or look at photos & other memorabilia of the Big Red Machine. Some views also overlook the field,

The actual sitting was nice and spacious with swivel chairs and tables! The downside is we could not hear the park announcer.

We’ve been here twice this season. The food is much better than at the concession stands. Both times we went we split a garden salad which was very large. We also split a sandwich. First time we had the caprese sandwich. Yummy with mozzarella and tomatoes. Second time we had another sandwich — think it was the roast turkey and cheese Italian (maybe?). It ended up being like a grilled cheese with turkey, but it was very good. Comes with chips but we up-​graded to fries. Great selection of different beers. There is a patio dining area which is sometimes rented out to groups. The inside area is open to the side facing the field. Lots of T.V.s. Large bar area. There’s also a pool table. Service was good. Nice place to go when you need a reprieve from the heat outside!

Free refills on soft drinks. Decent prices, air conditioning. A great way to take the family to a game and stay out of the heat.
Get here early to get a balcony table (minimum $ 100 or so, but with 4 guys drinking at a ballgame, that’s not a big deal).

Is it possible to feel nostalgic for an era that happened before one was even born? If it is, then The Machine Room Grille at Great American Ballpark gives me that feeling. The restaurant, located right above Adam Dunn in Left field, pays homage (big time) to the time when the Cincinnati Reds were actually a spectacularly good baseball franchise. Memorabilia depicting stand-​out players from The Big Red Machine (as the team was nicknamed in the 1970s) like Pete Rose and Johnny Bench clutter the pub-​like atmosphere of the Machine Room Grill.
Contrary to popular belief, diners can visit the restaurant on days that the ballpark is not hosting a baseball game… the Machine Room is open Monday-​Saturday year-​round. If you’re looking for a real experience at the grill, though, visit the Machine Room on a day the Cincinnati Reds are at home. If you call the restaurant early enough before game days you have the option of reserving one of the establishment’s outdoor tables, giving you a great view of the game from seats more comfortable than most in the ballpark. These tables have only one rule: patrons must spend at least $ 100 per table. (Keep in mind that on game days you also have to have a valid ticket to enter the restaurant, though) It is pretty easy to fill up your tab, as the grill offers a full bar and some pretty delicious ballpark-​style food.
Try the Montgomery Inn Pulled Pork sandwich for lunch or dinner before a game, it’s somewhat expensive ($ 12, if I remember correctly) but it will absolutely stuff you, especially if you order the onion ring appetizer before you get your sandwich. The rings are no ordinary fried treat; they’re sliced 2 inches wide and dunked excessively in delicious beer batter. The onion rings are served with three delicious dipping sauces, one of which is Montgomery Inn’s famed barbeque.
If you haven’t overloaded on calories in your first two courses, definitely check out the «Ultimate Gourmet Delight,» which consists of deep-​fried Twinkies and Oreos. The Twinkies are worth the price alone… the Oreos lose their crunch in the frying process.