Breweries all over the country are panicked, terrified and confused. Places all over, not just here in Cincinnati aren’t sure which way is up or down, and they’re afraid of what this virus (and the accompanying shutdown) means for their businesses. Fifty West? They are quietly opening up the latest piece of their long term domination of “lifestyle drinking” in the city with something that I have already fallen in love with. The burger joint.
They’re calling it the ‘Burger Bar’ – but I like “burger joint” better. It showcases the restaurants laid back feeling a little bit better for me. They have announced that starting this week, after a series of quiet soft openings, they’re letting loose on a “takeout only version” of the new piece of their puzzle.
The Big Picture
I’m not going to go into really deep detail about this latest piece of their expansion – because I already wrote about that. I do, though, want to emphasize the bigger picture that this starts to illustrate how Fifty West is ingraining themselves into our lives on so many different levels. Let me paint a small picture of an assumption I’m making about my two children (one of which is less than two days old… I’m writing this from an extremely uncomfortable hospital couch/bed). My oldest at least (and I assume this baby will too) loves a few things: hot dogs, fries, low key restaurants, playing outside with other kids, and seeing her Dad happy with a beer in his hand (I’m also assuming that last part).
Can you see where I’m going with this? Fifty West might have built a burger joint that is now going to become my kids favorite brewery in Cincinnati. When you put that next to a place where folks go to play volleyball, canoe, kayak, ride bikes, run with groups… holy shit you guys. They’re doing something really, really right with all of this.
The New Burger Joint, The Space
I haven’t had the chance to sit at a booth and enjoy this place for the ambiance quite yet… because of all this shutdown “stuff”. But I think I have a really good feeling at this point for what it’s going to be like.
The old pizza place has been completely redone, with beautiful orange and white-colored booths filling the dining space. It screams roadside diner, with comfort coming first in its personality and design. Of course, the whole interior space is modeled after (and features in one part of the dining room) one of those beautiful VW busses that we’ve all come to love from Fifty West. The new restaurant is designed to take a whole different approach to grabbing some food (and a beer, of course) from what the brewpub across the street does, quick and easy is how things will go on the south side of the street.
Outside, there will be a big beer garden situated right next to the new expansion of fifty west. It’s a place for you to eat, drink and play… in whatever way that means for you and your family. A takeout window on that side of the restaurant will make it easy for you to grab your food without having to head inside the building. It’s well thought out, and built around sunny summer months.
The Food
The second I looked at the menu, and ate my first burger from the new place – I was sold. I mean – burgers, fries and hot dogs aren’t exactly groundbreaking, so it’s hard to put a unique spin on it while keeping it grounded in the simplicity and comfort that the whole place exudes. Fifty West has nailed it.
Each “dish” (ie burger, or hot dog) has an option tied to it where you can top it with something that represents a different stop along the Route 50 journey from coast to coast. You’ll remember last year they did a year-long beer dinner series that had a similar idea behind it. It’s a brilliant way to take a small, focused menu and give it a TON of personalized options. Here’s what they’re doing:
- Indiana – Fresh Corn Salad, American Cheese and Lettuce
- Illinois – Horseradish Aioli, American Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Onion
- Virginia – Pimento Cheese, Grilled Ham, Pickle
- Ohio – Cincinnati Chili, Shredded Cheese, Mustard, Onion
- West Virginia – Apple Butter, American Cheese, Bacon, Caramelized Onion.
- Missouri – Marinara, Provolone Cheese, Parmesan Crisps
- Maryland – Old Bay tartar, American Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion
- Colorado – Spicy Green Chile Salsa, Ghost Pepper Jack Cheese, Jalapeno
- Nevada – Buffalo Bleu Cheese Sauce, Crispy Onion Straws, Pickle
- California – Guacamole, Lettuce, Tomato
- Kansas – Smokey BBQ, American Cheese, Bacon, Cole Slaw, Pickle
- Utah – Fry Sauce, Pastrami, Swiss Cheese, Pickle
Of course, the menu also has Wings and fries, shakes and house-made sodas. They have Vegetarian and Gluten free choices including a plant based burger and Paleo-friendly lettuce wrap option.
Why Now?
Things are weird right now – there’s no getting around that. But we will go back to normal, we will be saddled up to a bar again sometime… and while we wait for that day, Fifty West’s owner/founder Bobby Slattery could have put portions of this expansion on hold, but he didn’t. When you talk to him – which we do on next week’s episode of Cincy Brewcast – you can see that so much of this stems from a desire to be positive, provide a happy way for people to find normalcy and to be ready to provide that escape when we start to get out into the world again.
Until we get to that point, you can see the full menu at Fifty West’s website as well as order for pickup from the brewery. 100% – don’t skip this… it’s so freaking delicious.