A Pub with a View
I had the chance to visit Hamilton, Ohio recently with some friends and we needed to grab dinner. When I mentioned Fretboard Brewing and Public House (click for website) on the restaurant list, my friend immediately shut down any other options. It did not take long for me to see why.
The eatery has all floors in a building on the corner. A prime location that overlooks the Great Miami River and the bridge of State Route 129. When you first enter there are many things to draw the eye. The giant brewer tanks behind the bar, the waiting area of couches by the open windows, the low lighting that makes a cozy feel or the ceiling with tiles that remind you of an old timey bank and times past this building has seen. The décor uses the clean, empty look of modern styles with an industrial feel.
You can eat inside or on the rooftop. We chose the rooftop. It was a gorgeous day, and we had a lovely table against the railing and under an overhang to block out the sun. They also had comfy couches around a table for people to rest in and enjoy the atmosphere with their drinks.
The menu is very simple and has the things you expect and love from a pub; burgers, pulled pork, salads, a mac and cheese and more. However, Fretboard has two great claims that make it more worth the try. They use fresh not frozen ingredients and food made in house and multi-award winners in their beers. My friends tried some seasonal special beers and loved every sip. They shared the glasses back and forth to get as many tastes as they could. This experience is worth trying out with a flight to sample all the tastes they brew.
My table shared the Loaded Potato Hash Squares which was a gorgeous tower of potatoes with a lovely sauce, bacon and chives on top. It was piping hot, and worth every bite. The sauce is a beer cheese that has the right mixture to keep things interesting.
I had the pub burger for my main. The signature sauce gave it a lovely, smooth flavor and the burger was cooked medium and juicy as I ordered.
We shared the chocolate brownie for dessert and this was a decadent brownie with ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce that was the perfect after meal treat.
Our food came quickly and everything was hot and fresh, and the staff was wonderful. This is a must stop if you’re in the area and it’ll be a great treat for anyone.
