I've tried The Gruff a few times and every visit has been better than the last. The Bloody Mary is just out of this world good. They don't overdo it with a ton of garnish, and instead have such a tasty and unique bloody mix that is SO mouth watering. The gruff seems to excel at that- understated, unique flavors that work amazingly well. The staff is always friendly and the vibe is very relaxed. During Covid, they've been sticking to the guidelines and being safe, which I appreciate a lot. Definitely go give them a try! read more

The Gruff - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

I'm such a sucker for patio drinking when the weather is nice so the Gruff was recommended to me by a friend and it didn't disappoint! Their patio area has plenty of space and their drink selection, as well as their food menu, had a ton of really good options! I had the fried pickles and a couple sours recommended by our server, which were all 10/10. The parking situation wasn't ideal but besides that, I'd definitely stop by again! read more

So glad one of my favorite Covington spots had been still cranking out amazing food though out the pandemic. I ordered delivery the other day at work and man I was glad I did. I hadn't had one of their pizzas before and I absolutely loved it-- crumble sausage is the best sausage on pizza. (Fight me!) The tots were on point as usual too! Crispy even with the delivery trek. My next order will probably be sooner rather than later! read more

The Gruff - Create Your Own Pizza with sausage and Parmesan. Tots & Dip. - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Atmosphere great ! Service excellent and the brisket pizza was amazing !! Would recommend highly!!

I was traveling for work and ordered a takeout pizza. I got the house-made white wine garlic sauce with house-made sausage (at least the menu said those were house-made). The pizza was a good size, a large meal for a single person or good portions for a couple. The taste and appearance was very good and fully met expectations for a reasonable price. read more

Service was amazing. Our waiter made great suggestions for drinks and food. He was so accommodating. Food was so good. Sitting outside was great. Loved all of the games for kids. We visit the Gruff every time we are in town. read more

Excellent atmosphere, great staff, and delicious food and drinks. I'm sure it's a great spot before a Red's game. read more

See all

Delicious and consistent. Love all the salads, especially the Brussel sprout and arugula and great selection of beer.

The food is always delicious and the staff is super nice. Cocktails are great too! I love the ballpark lemonade and their salads are my favorite. Good selection of beer too! read more

My 2nd visit but first with my wife. We really enjoyed our meal. We both had a refreshing glass of white wine. With a full bar, the choices were plentiful. My wife had a smoked salmon wrap with a side salad. She loved the wrap and also said it was one of the best side salads she had ever eaten. I had the Cuban. Very good - I did not expect that. Place was lively & packed with the Reds game across the river. Fun place. read more

I met up with a friend and her husband at The Gruff last night, if their parking lot is full there's free parking after five in Covington. When you walk in the smell is amazing they make fresh woodfired pizza, they specialize in local and serving local beers I had an ice cold MadTree Blood Orange Psychopath, which hit the spot. Friend her and her husband ordered a deluxe pizza it was a meat lovers with onions and mushrooms added very flavorful tasty olive oil and the crust everything was just right. We enjoyed it so much we had to have another re-created a pizza with red sauce steak spinach and mushrooms also a great hit. The next time you're in Covington you must stop by the Gruff you can't miss it right next to Roebling suspension bridge read more

Very good. With beer and cheese market. Awesome lunch menu we enjoy since easy in and out working in Newport. (And meeting friends from Cincy side easy too!) Service was superb and friendly, looking forward to getting back soon. Highly recommended!! read more

I probably should've tried their pizza wife had burger wasnt too bad I had Cuban sandwich, if I'm ever back in the area I'll prolly give it another shot read more

My new favourite spot!! First time I went we sat outside it was a beautiful day. Drank beers ( about average price) our waitress was great always asking if we needed anything. I got the chicken sandwich and fries. Yum!! My daughter got the brisket pizza. Double yum!!! A week later we went back I wanted a pizza. I shared the brisket pizza with my daughter and it was just as good the 2nd time! Lol However the waitress this time was not as good. No silverware, napkins, nor water. But it wont stop us from going back. Loved it! read more

See all

Went here twice during October, 3-7 2022. The first time, I got the kale based salad. It was delicious and nutritious. A friend had me try the Brussel sprout pizza. It was delicious but a little rich. The pizzas are way more than a 160 lb man like myself can eat. On my second trip, I went for the truffle sausage pizza and found it to be very oily and mostly sausage and cheese with less basil than it would have liked. I used a knapkin to remove some of the truffle oil. I could only eat half and after getting back to the hotel I had diarrhea. read more

You know what's super underrated? The Gruff. It's easy to forget that you're sitting at the base of the stunning Roebling bridge when you dine at the Gruff. The Gruff is a great place to come for a meal or just to come enjoy a beer. In the age of social distancing? They also deliver via the 53t Courier! There's also an in-house deli with some limited grocery items. The Gruff is definitely most-known for their pizzas but also have hot and cold sandwiches on their menu. The pizzas range from $14-16 and serve 2-3 people. I've had their margherita pizza before and it was delicious. I've also been here when they have trivia going on and it was a great time! The Gruff is one of those places I forget to think about going to but always enjoy myself when I do! read more

Very nice place to go. For lunch I had the fried chicken salad which you'd think would be very simple but wasn't. Chicken seemed to be cooked in a cast iron skillet and was delicious. Salad was a mixture of fresh greens and vegetables. Chipotle mayo dressing complimented it well and not over powering it. Server was friendly and animated. She helped make it a real nice experience. And to sum up, wasn't that expensive. Will definitely be back. read more

Fantastic brick oven pizza. The broccoli pizza and the sausage truffle were the best.

We came here while visiting the area. While the service was a little slow during our visit, the food and drinks were delicious! I tried the drink of the month (Trolls Daiquiri) and it was so good I couldn't stop at just one! We also ordered a classic cheese pizza and a Philly cheesesteak pizza. Both were delicious! I would definitely recommend coming here. read more

The Gruff - a slice of pizza and a glass of beer - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Pizza is good. Staff and Bar staff are very cool and nice. Pies from Pie Bird are great. Overall food is over priced for the quality and craftsmanship. Roast beef sandwich is way too dry and soggy on the inside bread. Really gross. I stay away from other food items than above. read more

The Gruff - Psssst....Owner....this is how chopped fresh grilled chicken looks on a plate. - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I had heard for a while that the chicken sandwich here was good but hadn't tried it until this week. WOWWWW. Incredible flavor. Simple. Delicious. I enjoy the pickle fries as a side (and don't know why more places don't have pickles cut thin like fries!). Cool environment, easy service (sometimes it feels like you're waiting a while but the waiting is worth it) and can't beat a great location. read more

OMG, killer chicken sandwich. Best I think I've ever had in my life. Wonderful selection of beer, great vibe. I don't live in Cincinnati but if I did I'd be here constantly. read more

The Gruff - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

Pros: extremely kid-friendly atmosphere (they even have a little section with toys and coloring books and toddler-sized chairs where your kids can gravitate once they get bored sitting), friendly staff, good food Cons: pace of service a bit slow, kids menu items a tad overpriced I ordered the fried chicken sandwich, which was excellent. I got the kids' menu charcuterie (adorable idea), veggie tray and a hot dog w/fruit as the side. My sister ordered a Bloody Mary and said it was tasty. The presentation of the cocktail and food was pretty. read more

See all

Pretty decent little lunch spot. They have sandwiches and salads and pizzas. Everyone in my family got sandwiches and they were all surprisingly good. The bread is 16 Bricks which is amazing and then all the ingredients on the sandwiches were really fresh and tasty. The place is super cause so i would definitely recommend for lunch or maybe a super causal dinner and drinks. read more

The Gruff - Turkey and prosciutto sandwich - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

Decent food, nice atmosphere, slow service. Easy walking from The Banks. Pros: Good number of beers on draft Pleasant outdoor seating Food is fine Cons: Took quite a while to get our food during a weekday lunch. About forty minutes to get served pizza. read more

Visiting NKY for the holiday, needed a pizza night & my daughter found The Gruff! Just got take out but the atmosphere was great! Partiers, family, sports & a store all having fun in a casual place. Very welcoming, pizzas were ready on time. & all 3 were excellent: the Brussel sprout, Truffle sausage but hey, add bacon to the margarita & BOOM!! Just go!! read more

Take our dogs there all the time during the summer. Great selection of beer & bourbon, great mixed drinks. Their pizza is unreal! Absolutely recommend this spot for lunch or dinner. read more

It's a very casual restaurant and I appreciate that it's a dog friendly restaurant. We ordered the fried pickles and hanky panky dip for appetizers. The fried pickles were pretty decent but the hanky panky dip wasn't tasteful. It had no flavor and it was "one note." I ordered the Brussel sprout pizza. Once again, it was okay, nothing to run home and brag about though .It was just cheese bread. If you need a quick eat when visiting the suspension bridge, but I would not go out of my way to eat here nor would I go here again. read more

The Gruff - Hanky Panky Dip ($9) - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

Tea was bad. Food was just ok. Restaurant with No change at check out and slow to ring out. Staff could definitely use a smile, and no thank you or come again on exit! read more

Nestled by the Roebling Suspension Bridge, this place was perfect for a late lunch on a beautiful Saturday before a Reds game. It's seat yourself inside or out, and it was busy, but the servers were hustling. Katie T was great! We had some craft beer and the sausage truffle pizza, which was amazing! Crumbly sausage with caraway, truffle oil and mozzarella on an incredibly light and flaky crust. The house made dough made it irresistible! Highly recommend getting a pizza. read more

The Gruff - Sausage truffle pizza - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Easily one of my favorite spots to grab a bite in Covington. Perfect lunch or dinner spot and don't sleep on the weekend brunch because the Southern Fried Chicken and the Creamy Red Pepper & Parmesan Polenta are both FIRE! DRINKS: They always have a great tap selection that offers a nice variety of beers from local and national craft breweries. Other drinks are solid, but unless you're getting a mimosa or bloody mary with brunch, stick with the beer. Drinks are always reasonably priced and there's usually a special to be found on weekdays. FOOD: I've tried just about everything on the menu and I can honestly say I havent run into a bad item yet. Pizza is always a solid go-to, the ingredients are fresh, dough is on point and the brick oven is a thing of magic. Try the Smoked Brisket Pizza, trust me. If pizza isnt your thing then check out the Fermented Beet Salad for some lighter fare or go bold and get the insanely delicious Fried Pork Loin Sandwich - for real, cannot recommend those two highly enough. ATMOSPHERE: Great spot to post up at the bar and catch a game or do a casual date night with your partner or friends. The outside patio is great when the weather is warm and it has an amazing view of the Roebling. Oh, and did I mention the epic little delicatessen right inside? Stock up on anything from prepped salads and cold cuts to local beers and liquor. The selection of local products alone is worth dropping in for, even if you dont end up eating there. In summation, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT. read more

The Gruff - Fermented Beet Salad - seriously one of the most well balanced salads I've ever had. - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

BIG YUM The Gruff is a pizza place you can't forget and shouldn't miss. It's located right along the river in Covington, and is one of my new favorite spots in the city! You really can't go wrong with any of the pizza here. I also ordered the tater tots -- big fan!!! Overall, 5/5, definitely go here! read more

Really good food- I would do it lunch or dinner again. The salad was super fresh and delicious. I enjoyed the servers, and everything was timely. I honestly wish I had visited more. They had healthy options also. BLT salad add chicken- that chicken is really good, greens were perfect, and chicken didn't go on the greens while hot to wilt them. Has healthier options plus plenty of drinks. Definitely worth it for a relaxed setting. Good food!! read more

Their burgers and fries are awesome. It was so good that I've only ever gotten that because I want it every time.

Great night at the Gruff. Watched two college football games. Cute place and great service. Took home a six pack of local beer too read more

See all

Love this place! Great food, great atmosphere. Lots of beer and bourbon. You can't go wrong!

Pretty cool spot, kinda sunken so keep an eye out. Tried the pizza and a cuban sammy, cuban came with fried pickles. The pizzas are great, the crust is thin, crispy, chewy, very nice. We got the margarita and smoked brisket. The smoked brisket was the winner. The margarita was fine but nothing to write about. The cuban didn't translate for me. It was fine but a wonky cuban. Really liked the fried pickles, cutting them long for the win. All around cool spot, super friendly staff and good food. read more

See all

Good service & local hangout joint. Food is decent but not outstanding. Pizza oven is inconsistent. Nice outdoor patio at the foot of the Roebling Bridge. If you are looking for a casual meal, a good drink, and some conversation, The Gruff will provide it, read more

The Gruff is a great place to eat. It's got a relaxed atmosphere and excellent food. The chicken sandwich and tots were crispy and tasty. The pizza had a crunchy crust and just the right amount of cheese and sausage. We topped it off with the ice cream cookie sandwich. So good! read more

See all

I came here for brunch one Sunday morning with 3 friends. Luckily we got to the restaurant about 45 minutes after it opened so we were able to get a table immediately. It did fill up fast after that and there was a wait, so I'd recommend coming early. We started brunch off with some mimosas and bloody Mary's. They were good but a little inconsistent with garnish. Our food took a while to arrive but it was brunch we weren't in a rush. I got the homemade sausage sandwich which was really good! I would definitely recommend this menu items. My friends got pancakes and smoked salmon and they liked their dishes as well. read more

The Gruff - Homemade sausage sandwich - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky