The Hilltop: A Friendly Neighborhood Bar with Late Night Bites
A NEIGHBORHOOD JOINT
The Hilltop has been around for nearly half a decade, but it wasn’t until a little over 18 months ago that new owners Brittany Keller and Robert Darr took over operations. The bar was previously owned by 4EG, an entertainment agency that brought a noisy ambiance to Mt. Adams, a point of contention among many of the neighborhood’s residents. Since taking over, Brittany and Rob have transformed the bar into a welcoming local neighborhood joint. They are proud to be in Mt. Adams and serve a community that is so special to the fabric of Cincinnati’s culture.
The Burg - a mocktail featuring blood orange sour, pomegranate syrup, lime juice, and sparkling water.
Located inside a historic building on Pavilion Street, The Hilltop sits just steps away from the Holy Cross - Immaculata Parish, home to one of Cincinnati’s most iconic overlooks. The bar’s interior is decorated with posters that pay homage to Cincinnati, alongside several vibrant neon signs and lights, making for a cozy atmosphere that extends to their spacious outdoor patio. The Hilltop is serving up a massive drink menu with signature cocktails, local beers, mules, wine, mocktails and more. The team at The Hilltop may be small, but they're a mighty force; chances are you'll catch one or both of the owners personally pouring drinks, or cooking & serving food. In fact, one of the significant enhancements Brittany and Rob have brought to The Hilltop experience is their expanded food menu that they designed from scratch.
YES, THE KITCHEN IS OPEN!
We've all been there: it's 10:47 PM, nearly every restaurant in the city is closed or about to close, and you're staring at the map, desperate to find a place that can satisfy your intense late-night hunger for hearty food. No need to get hangry—because The Hilltop is open until 2am on the weekends and is ready to satisfy your cravings! They have a tiny food truck out back where they’re cranking out a huge menu. It’s pretty impressive how much food comes out of that kitchen! The menu features dishes like fish and chips, chicken tenders, tacos, and more. During our visit, we got to try their Wings, Spicy “Chicken and Waffle” Fries, The Cowboy, Fish and Shrimp, and a special dessert that Rob fried up for us.
The wings are fried perfectly and topped with a peppery house seasoning, served alongside any of their 10 available sauces. It’s worth mentioning that all the wings we got were flats. I’m not sure if this is always the case, but I was a happy man because I’ll take flats over drums any day of the week; they’re easier to dip and yield more meat! The Cowboy is a loaded spicy chicken sandwich with American cheese, jalapeños, battered onion rings, and BBQ sauce. The Fish and Shrimp was a great portion and featured beer-battered fried Alaskan cod, fried shrimp, and French fries with a side of tartar sauce and sweet Thai chili sauce.
The Spicy “Chicken and Waffle” Fries were the unanimous star of the show for us. A bed of waffle fries is topped with chopped crispy chicken breast, and drizzled with a trio of sauces (buffalo sauce, honey mustard, and ranch). All you have to do is sink your fork into this massive pile goodness and it’s a banger bite every time. For just $12, the price-to-calorie ratio for the Spicy “Chicken and Waffle” Fries is awesome. For dessert, Rob makes deep fried Uncrustables and tops them with a dash of cinnamon sugar. Imagine the pure joy we had eating this at 1am. The common denominator of all these dishes are that they are expertly fried by Rob. I’m convinced that Rob could fry up a shoe and it’d come out crispy, juicy, and tender!
The next time you have a late-night craving, head over to The Hilltop in Mt. Adams for drinks and great grub!
For the most up-to-date menu, hours, happy hour specials, and events, check out their website. Also, be sure to give them a follow on Instagram.
Visit The Hilltop at:
950 Pavilion Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
