04/08/09

Jamaican Clam Chowder

by Arnolds

That was actually Jamaican Clam Chowder and was very different. I explained to you It wasn't New England Clam Chowder, offered to refund your money and give you another soup when you called. I deeply am sorry you didn't like your soup and did everything in my power to make thing right with you.

01/23/09

Can't chew the chowder

by andisleepy

I will never order the soup again. I had a carryout of New England Clam Chowder - obviously the cook has never had it before because his/her version doesn't even resemble it. Anyone can put milk and butter in a pan with a can of clams. Chowder should be thick and chunky, not the consistency of water from a fawcet.

Make sure you have ALL the ingredients on hand before you put it on the menu.

08/10/06

This historic establishment has been one of Cincinnati's finest saloons since the days before prohibition.

by Contributor

In Short
Since opening in 1861, three generations of the Arnold family have lived upstairs and operated the bar. Legend has it that the second-floor bathtub was used to make gin. Since the 1960s, various owners have helped to further establish its spirited atmosphere by adding a dinner menu and nightly jazz and piano acts. Walls are covered with signs and portraits from the '40s and '50s, including historic team photos of the Cincinnati Reds. The fare includes delicious salads, entrees and drinks from an eclectic menu.

07/20/06

Cincinnati's best bar. Period.

by drunkenseur

There are very few great historical bars left in America. They've either vanished or, worse, become some cheese-ball parody of themselves. Having traveled all over this country and drank my way across most American cities, there are four bars that I put above all others: The Green Parrot in Key West, Vesuvio in San Francisco, Miller's in Chicago, and Arnold's in Cincinnati. I discovered Arnold's in 1999 and have rarely left. Part of what makes Arnold's so amazing is that not everybody gets it. If you think that Applebee's is a great place, stay out of Arnold's. The junk on Arnold's walls and shelves was not placed there carefully by a corporate policy. It has been accumulated during a storied history as the longest operating bar in the City of Cincinnati. In continuous operation since 1861 -- including through prohibiiton -- Arnold's is timeless. It is also a fantastic restaurant. The $4.25 lunch is under-mentioned by local food critics. Through extraordinary creativity, Arnold's weekly changing lunch menu is one of the overall best in downtown and without rival in value. The dinner menu stays the same, but the specials change and are usually excellent. Arnold's also has one of the best cold Muffalettas I've had north of the Central Grocery. Music is always free and some of the city's most beloved acts are regulars. This is all part of what makes the bar a haven for political leaders, celebrities, local theatre troops, poets, lawyers, and drunks like me. Arnold's is like a Coen Brothers movie. If you're cool, you'll enjoy it the first time, but it keeps getting better the more you go back.

• Pros: Ambience, food, music
• Cons: No happy hour deals, no lunch on Saturdays and closed all day Sunday.

08/11/05

Great for lunch

by japiening

Can't beat the $3.95 lunch menu - several items to choose from & all great - from burgers to salads. Nice outdoor patio. Attentive & friendly staff too.

11/09/02

Great Music, Great Food, Great Dining!

by genlethargy

09 NOV 2002

I discovered Arnold's in June and since then I've been there at least six or seven times. The menu is ecclectic, and offers a wide varity. The daily specials are expensive, so my advice is, stick to the menu! Weather permitting, sit outdoors, especially for live music!

• Pros: Outdoor Seating, Smoking is Available, Great Service
• Cons: Parking is often hard, Can be crowded, Indoor space limited

09/27/02

Had fun

by scumlike

My husband went here thinking we would have dinner but were seated in what is (in the summer) the outside patio. We didn't like sitting in there as the tables were too close together and the tables were wobbly. We felt forced to make conversation with the table next to us. We gave up on eating and just drank cocktails and listened to the good band. Overall, we had a good time. Next time, we'll try to eat there.

09/26/02

Just okay food!

by kapilman

This is a good outside choice and nice to meet the friends after work, but I wasn't impressed with the food. Average at best.

• Pros: nice outside seating
• Cons: average food

08/21/02

Oldie but a Goodie!

by Melanie14

Great atmosphere, great music, great service, and of course great pasta! It's a simple menu, but delicious dishes. Greek Pasta is the city's favorite, but my personal fav. is the Sicillian Linguini! If you love clams, you've got to try their Creamy Clam and Linguini! You can't go wrong dining here!

• Pros: Quick seating, Moderately priced, Great Atmosphere
• Cons: Parking

08/08/02

A Treasure

by Dodie

Arnold's is a treasure nestled in the the hustle and bustle of downtown. The atmosphere and food is wonderful. The history of the building is a nifty peice of the past. Ask an employee, most can tell you the history. I never had to wait for a refill. I never felt rushed to hurry up and get out of my seat like other places. I could relax and enjoy a very wonderfully prepared meal. Even the garnishes are original and exotic and not the ordinary parsley.