The Moerlein Lager House features great food,great beer, and what a view !

We had lunch there this past weekend and everything was excellent. The menu has a little bit of everything and the beer list is very impressive. The decor is upscale, but still captures a 'pub' feel.

We like to stop bu the Lager House before a Reds game, and have yet to ever be disappointed with the service or food. Yes, the prices are a little bit higher than what you pay at other places in town, but you must remember that you are sitting along the Ohio River right next to Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium. That being said, our food has always been very good, exactly what we ordered, excellent brews, the service friendly and not pushy. The decor is modern/warehouse style and one interesting tidbit is when you walk in they have a gold homeplate on the floor... this is where 1st base was located in the old Riverfront Stadium, so that gives you an idea of the location of this restaurant. If you're visiitng Cincinnati, especially in the warmer weather, I would recommend a stop at the Moerlein Lager House.

The food is great restaurant (not bar) food. The view of the suspension bridge and the river is the absolute best in the Cincinnati area. The decor is warm, modern, and attractive. The beer is great, as you'd expect. Our server was knowledgeable and available.

For a fun, boisterous group, I'd recommend this place.

But...I should be able to give Moerlein's five stars. So why only three stars? Two reasons:

1) The noise. This place needs some sound deadening panels hung from the high ceiling in the worst way. The noise on a Friday night varied between punishing and a-jet-just-took-off loud. That's fixable, and you'll see that as a constant in many reviews, so it's disconcerting that it hasn't been fixed.

2) Lousy place for a date. Aside from the noise, the few two-top tables are stuck in aisleways away from the view and near the kitchen, or in a corner near the kitchen. (and yes, we had reservations) This place is simply not set up for couples.

Both of those problems are fixable, and I hope someone at the restaurant actually reads their reviews.

I had high hopes for the Lager House when I heard about it. Conceptually, an Ohio side beer house that could rival the Hofbrauhaus for fun, energy and good beer.

Instead, they created an overpriced and sterile mass restaurant. Big miss. Too bad, its so convenient to downtown and could have been a great pre/post game bar.