Nice place to stop in for a drink and bite to eat while exploring Covington. The staff were friendly and efficient- Katie you rock! Tater tots were tater tots , nothing special by themselves but the dips were good. We picked out our own toppings for the brick oven pizza and enjoyed every bite. The restaurant was clean including the bathrooms. Definitely will be returning read more

They serve some of the best pizza in Kentucky and Ohio! The oven was imported from Italy and it really shows. They have a creative menu using fresh and local ingredients. In addition to the restaurant, The Gruff features a full bar with eight taps and also stocks a variety of specialty items and groceries including milk, eggs, bread, beer, and wine. read more

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The Gruff is a cute deli/restaurant located at the foot of the John A. Roebling suspension bridge. I've been here a few times, the last being with the Queen City Running Group. They have bar food, pizza and brunch all at very great prices. They are also known for supporting local businesses and hand-making their food. We recieve a 10% discount after our runs and they have free yoga classes on Saturdays with Yoga Bar (out of OTR) and offer 10% off brunch after that class. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that deal out, I will be hitting it up once I'm done marathon training. A third of the store is a deli and specialty foods area and the rest of the restaurant has a big bar and tables for dining. The big open space is has fun murals at the walls with a billy goat theme, but I find that i am cold every time I come here. Not sure if it's me or the concrete restaurant around me; I just don't find the place super warm. I have eaten pizza every time I've been here and it's been so good every time. Bar pizza (in other words, pizza that isn't from an "Italian" or true pizzeria) makes me nervous and oftentimes is a sad example of what pizza can look like. Not at this place. The crust is light and crispy with just enough ooey-gooey cheese that is the perfect balance on your palate. I want to come back for brunch to sample the breakfast pizza... One of my first thoughts was how good this crust would be with an egg on top. The beer list looks great and so do the rest of the appetizers... I need to come back and try more things. Fun fact: they have hanky pankies on the menu. How often do you see that? Brings back warm memories of being at my grandma's and referring to it as "Sh!t on Toast," the more common name for the hanky panky :). read more

I love the location of this place! The chicken sandwich is to die for, especially without the bun. Great brick oven pizza and plenty of vegetarian items and great salads. The beer selection is always changing. Fun place to go, especially with young children. read more

5 stars alone for being child friendly restaurant. Sat in the back by the child area which allowed to enjoy a night out with friends while also allowing us to have the kids entertained. Pizza and chicken sandwich were really good. Had a lot of beer and cocktail selection as well. read more

Love the billy goat story and murals! We went for a late lunch and the service was good. I ordered the turkey sandwich with waffle fries. The bread was very thick, crusty, and chewy. The sandwich itself was fine but didn't blow me away. The waffle fries were very crispy and I loved the presentation in a tall silver cup. My husband ordered the burger which he loved. I tasted his pasta salad and it decent: rainbow pasta, onions, and olives. They also had a good beer menu and several drafts as well. I also thought the delicatessen was a nice option if you live in the neighborhood. They had meats and pastas, wine, beer, and snacks for sale. I give this a three because it was "A-OK," good but nothing amazing. I would like to come back and try their pizzas because maybe they are more unique than the sandwiches. Great location though! read more

Love love love their breakfast sandwiches! Great place and atmosphere for Saturday brunch. The only criticism I have is that their staff seems to be a bit disorganized. Our ticket got mixed with another table's order and they struggled to separate the plates, adding time to our wait. However they were friendly. Also I would advise not ordering a bloody mary unless you want to drink straight pepper. On a positive note, I love that there is always a bottle of water with which to refill your drink, and when the food does come out you can tell it's fresh and made with great ingredients. Oh and order the coffee! No need for cream and sugar, though they offer it. read more

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Good food, reasonable prices, good service. They have some outside seating that would be nice in the evening or in the spring and fall.

Awesome pizzas and beer selection. They have deals frequently throughout the week ($3 beer Wednesday's). Dogs allowed on the patio!

In Cincinnati for the weekend, friend's wedding. Walked across the Roebling bridge and The Gruff looks busy. Walk in, greeted with warmth. Order the Turkey sandwich and some iced tea. Delicious both. read more

This is the best ever spot! You might think it is just pizza, but no! Massive character and incredible staff. Best salad on the menu: Grass is greener! Fried chicken sandwich to die for! Must have tater tots! Incredible wait staff Frank and Bonnie! You'll be thrilled! Went back every day! Loved hanging out with my girl, Cyndi! She's awesome and so is this spot! Don't miss it! read more

Luckily I did not pay for the experience as someone took me there for my birthday. So keep in mind this was free. The place seems nice enough. Service was acceptable. We ate outside as it was gorgeous. They have a decent beer list and an interesting deli type menu. We got deviled eggs which were ok. Not as good as mom makes. The pizza was not very good, sort of like an out of the box microwaveable store bought pizza. It seemed under cooked and the flavor was underwhelming. I was very surprised as the reviews were mostly good. I am starting to loose faith in Yelp here in Cincinnati as most folks around here don't seem to expect much. I doubt I will return. Is there a Yelp for grown up food snobs who think dining out should have amazing food and service? At least to warrant a stream of 5 star ratings. Yelp needs a snob setting. read more

Great food and an excellent beer selection. Take a date and walk over the bridge to the newly developed snail park. read more

The Gruff - Kids area is nice:) - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

The service was Good and the food was Awesome! It was our first time there. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the menu. We had the hankie pinkie appetizer and share two different pizzas which were all so delicious! Their alcohol drink menu was slim to choose from. We enjoyed our time there and will be back! read more

The service was slow , due to lack of staff and baseball game. But make up on flavor of the food !!! Totally recommend ...

This place is amazing. I didn't want the food to end. We will definitely by back. I had the breakfast sausage sandwich. I can't say enough praise about this place read more

Tried for lunch today and was not disappointed. The decor is updated and fun, as are the waitstaff. I ordered a cheeseburger with pickle fries. The burger was huge! All of the dressings were fresh and the aoli was flavorful. The pickle fries were my favorite part of the meal. The breading was well seasoned and crispy, while the pickle still held a bit of crunch even after being deep fried. I would definitely visit again. read more

The Gruff - Cheeseburger and pickle fries - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

My first time here. The Gruff gets its name from the famous fairytale, the Three Billy Goats Gruff who wanted to cross the bridge to greener pastures yet not be eaten by the troll who lived below. The restaurant which resides at the Covington, Kentucky end of Cincinnati's Roebling Bridge just across from the downtown riverfront offers sandwiches and pizza within an open and airy atmosphere. I had the Fried Chicken sandwich made with a thick slab of crispy-fried breast meat in a bed of pickled cole slaw. For my side, I chose the dill pickle fries with a dill yoghurt dipping sauce. Both were delicious, perfectly balancing the unctuous oily fried foods with the tangy slaw and creamy sauce respectively. Service was a bit spotty. Our iced tea didn't come with sugar and after asking our server for some it was not forthcoming anytime soon. When we asked another server for the sugar, she brought exactly one packet each of sugar, saccharine, and stevia sweeteners. Oh well. That was really their only downfall. Try it out. read more

While traveling we stopped in Covington to stay in a hotel. We needed somewhere to eat dinner so we decided to stop at The Gruff. Over all it is a good restaurant. One nice feature was a kids area for little ones to play in. The pizza was really good and I would recommend it if you are passing through.The food took a little while but when it came it was hot and fresh.I would love for them to expand their restaurant to other areas! read more

Okay, so check this out... I absolutely love the location, concept, and staff of The Gruff. I also think the food is delivered timely and is of decent quality and presentation. My gripe is simple, the taste / flavors of the food are just ok. I seem to always leave feeling underwhelmed. So far, I've had the roast beef sandwich, meat and potatoes pizza, cheese and mushroom pizza, pickle fries, waffle fries, fried chicken sandwich, and chicken salad wrap. Regardless, I will most likely continue to stop in to The Gruff, since it's such a unique establishment in a great location. read more

hidden gem! i've never had a bad meal here! the burger is fantastic for brunch & i hear they have $8 mimosa pitchers. their pizza is so delicious!! i've had the bbq brisket with salsa verde drizzle twice - do yourself a favor! beautiful view of downtown & the roebling. i recommend grabbing their nutella milkshake to-go and walking the bridge on a nice night! oh! and they have a pretty cool little shop inside with local goodies to browse! enjoy! read more

Great food, cool atmosphere, and friendly service. We had pizza and the fried chicken salad. The pickled zucchini and speciality chipotle dressing on the salad was amazing! read more

Nice unique variety of wood fired pizzas with an interesting flare. We enjoyed the Belgian with bacon, grilled onion, creme fresh, Swiss cheese, & parsley. Also tasty was the truffle sausage (homemade sausage) truffle oil and a cheese blend. The cheese board offered an amazing bleu and pepper option that everyone loved. Moscow and Kentucky mules were enjoyed as well! Overall great. What could be improved, the seating...the indoor outdoor, 'ikea' styled seating was a little 'porch' feeling. Definitely think a woodfired warehouse environment could offer some more cozy seating. It did take a bit to get wait staff attention but once they engaged the service was on point read more

The Gruff - The Belgian:Bacon, Sautéed Onions, Swiss, Creme Fresh, Parsley - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Had an excellent apple, bacon pizza. Had some sweet and savory going on. The thin crust was very good and wasn't heavy on the stomach before a day of walking riverfront. read more

Had the Italian Meat. Super crispy, tons of flavor. On Monday's there specialty pizzas are $10. Best fries chicken sandwich in town and the pickle fries are stupid good. read more

My son wanted to check this place out and I was pleasantly surprised see by the high quality of the food. I had the chicken sandwich and it was fantastic... perfect blend of slickness. He had the burger which was huge and nicely complimented with the green chili topping. The fries and even the ketchup deserve accolades. We are going to make this our new go-to place and are anxious to explore the menu further read more

I could LIVE off their chicken salad, which I bought two pounds of after first trying the sandwich. Their pizzas are delicious-- the crust is the perfect combination of soft and crispy. Look for the pizza specials, especially the cheeseburger pizza! The staff is patient and friendly and happy to accommodate any requests. The Gruff is the perfect place to sit outside while enjoying a specialty pizza and one of the many local brews they have on tap. Then stop in the deli and grab a pint of graeter's or a six pack to take home! read more

A well kept secret-at least to those on the other side of the river, The Gruff offers a menu of pizza, sandwiches and such for dining in at the foot of the Suspension Bridge. The experience was good, the food was great and ambiance friendly. There's parking as well and a small grab 'n go and deli counter. Great addition to the COV. Point of note: it's a table service/menu kind of place. We sat ourselves and waited just beyond an awkward amount of time upon arrival before being those guests who were obviously looking around waiting for service. read more

Great little restaurant with a deli and cafe feel, it has a retail area in the front with various offerings (olive oil, chocolate, granola, wine and beer to name a few) with an emphasis on local items. We had brunch here and I had the veggie breakfast sandwich while a friend ordered the breakfast pizza. Both were so good, the fresh basil aioli really sealed the deal on my sandwich! Good drink specials and beers on tap plus indoor/outdoor seating with a great view of the Roebling Bridge. I will definitely add this to the list of great brunch spots and love that it's on the KY side of the river. If you haven't yet go check out The Gruff! read more

Great place to grab a drink or bite. The pizza crust is unique and delicious, lots of great beer on tap and its a clean joint. Great find!

The food was awesome and the waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. We met up with some friends there and we had a blast!

Havnt had anything bad here yet my favorite is philly cheese steak pizza. Really like smoked chicken salad. Chicken sandwich is great too ! Bar is limited but I like this location and atmosphere. read more

Not at all what I expected. Waitress didn't like beer and couldn't recommend a blondie like beer for me. I got the hanky panky's which were very different and had no cheese in them. (I thought cheese was one of main ingredients in the dish) My friend got the burger and fries which the burger was pretty good but the waffle fries were too crispy and didn't taste like a french fry. I liked the overall look to the place and it looked clean and just simple which is nice. Trying to get to the parking lot was rather difficult and hard to manuiver out of. read more

The Gruff - Pizza Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Went here today for the first time for lunch. The place was very clean and the service was excellent. The prices are reasonable. My friend got a salad and said it was good, and said she would have it again. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich. It was very dry and the bread was stale. It was probably one of the worst chicken salad sandwiches I have ever eaten. The tater tots were good. Overall, this is a very nice place with great service. I would go back and try it again, but I would not order the chicken salad. read more

Bad service. Sat for 30 minutes while the wait staff did everything but serve us. I get being short staffed but this was ridiculous. No food is with that treatment. read more

I got to try The Gruff about a year ago for a stop on the Tour de Pizzannati* and really enjoyed my experience. I recently returned since it is also dog friendly, and enjoyed it even more than the first time. The Gruff features pizza and deli-style sandwiches, plus salads, soups, sides, and desserts. It also has a pretty bitchin' view of the Suspension Bridge from most tables at the restaurant -- inside or out. On my first trip, I'd heard the Pickle Fries were a must, so we started with those before our cheese pizza, Philly Cheese Steak, and Smoked Brisket pizza entrees. I liked all of the pizzas we got, but I really liked the cheese pizza, which was great, considering it is the flagship dish of the Tour*. When I recently returned, I sat on the patio with my dog and my guy, where we enjoyed Philly Cheese Steak pizza, beer, and a beautiful view of the Suspension Bridge. In addition to the food I've gotten to try, our server brought Franklin a bowl of water (with ice!) when she brought out drinks, which I loved. There was plenty of parking, the food was really good, they had a decent beer selection, and the location was pretty awesome -- prime for taking a short stroll after our meal (the Riverside Drive Historic District is only a short walk away). I am a big fan of this place, and would love to come back for brunch sometime, which is served on Saturdays. *The Tour de Pizzannati came to life when a friend and I set out to determine where in the Greater Cincinnati area has the best cheese pizza. If a restaurant cannot master the basics, how can it be considered quality? read more

The Gruff is a new spot that opened up in Covington. They claim to be a grocery store and a restaurant. Unfortunately the grocery store is lacking a bit. But the restaurant was hoping when I swung by on Friday night! I got a chicken salad plate to go. The serving size isn't large, but the flavor was there! Their chicken salad is more a smokey savory one that is served on a bed of greens. The service was super friendly and fast! I'll be back to eat in next time and take advantage of the view! Bonus: a great spot to pick up local free range eggs although a bit pricy at $5 a dozen. But in the winter they are hard to find! read more

I met my sister here for lunch with my 10-week-old at around 11:30a on a Thursday. I was pleased to find parking (limited) in the back and no wait (it got busy as we were leaving). I've found it hard to find places to eat that are accommodating to people with babies/kids and have great food and beer. The Gruff definitely hits all of those points. It had a play area for kids and a place to change my daughter in the bathroom (a large cart- other old buildings should take note of how easy it can be to make this accommodation). We had a beer and split some pickle fries, the chicken sandwich, and the BLT (seasonal). Everything was good, but the pickle fries and our waiter were wonderful. I definitely recommend this place whether or not you have kids. You'll be able to enjoy good food and great service. read more

Over priced salads, but pizzas are still great. I want the fried pickles back. Also some of the most ignored service sitting at a bar when no one but me is there, especially during lunch. Pretty confusing to treat industry people. read more

The pizza crust is excellent. The atmosphere is excellent. The service was average. We really liked the vegetarian pizza. The only negatives were that we felt it was a bit pricey and we really weren't provided with enough water for everyone at the table. Overall we will eat here again. read more