Restaurant Review: Montgomery Inn, Boathouse

I got the pleasure of getting to try my first ribs this month and I am glad it was at Montgomery Inn the Boathouse. A friend wanted to try the place out, and we love a good view, so we chose the boathouse from the two current locations, the Original in the Village of Montgomery and the Boathouse on the Ohio river. I really enjoyed the experience! I have avoided ribs as I don’t care for BBQ sauce and most sauces that have strong vinegar based overtones. The tomato and spiced sauce of Montgomery Inn was a soothing mixture with a small kick that didn’t overpower the meat.

The Montgomery Inn started in 1951 after the original owners Ted & Matula Gregory bought McCabe’s Inn in Montgomery and renamed it. Their parents and siblings helped out at the restaurant as it grew. Matula decided to cook ribs one night for friends at the bar and they became such a big hit, they decided to add them to the menu, first only on Friday and Saturday, and later every night they were open. The restaurant starts to really get fame in the 60s after getting visits from movie stars, singers Johnny Cash and June Carter, and Ted gets named the Ribs King by the Cincinnati Post.

In 1976 the place burned down during the Red’s Opening Day but they were able to rebuild and reopen. By ‘86 they opened their first new location Montgomery Inn East. In ‘87 they break ground downtown, and by ‘89 the Boathouse had opened.

The restaurant gains more business by selling their sauce in bottles in 1990 and ribs too by mail in 1994. In 2001 we see the Fort Mitchell restaurant open and Ted pass away while his family continues the legacy of Montgomery Inn. Britany Spears sings there in honor of Ted in 2002, Andre Agassi dines in 2004 before winning the ATP tournament, and the place boasts that every president since Ford has dined on their ribs.

All this history has not affected their simple menu which we tried quite a few items from. We started with the pulled pork nachos. Their famous saratoga chips are the base and topped with the famous BBQ sauce, cheese, green onions and jalapeños. The chips paired really well with the tomato and spice overtones of the sauce and the cheese and green onions enhanced the flavor more.

We barely started tucking into the chips before our meals arrived, hot and fast, to our table. My friends split the combo entree meal with the ribs and shrimp while I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with the mac and cheese. The ribs that they handed me to try were topped with the sauce and fell off the bone so easily we almost dropped it to pass things off. The meat was tender and the sauce did not overpower the taste for me or overwhelm me. The shrimp was breaded and golden with a side of a plum and spicy mustard sauce that was surprising to my friends and refreshing.

My pulled pork was similar in nature. A creamy mixture of sauce and pork. I barely stopped for air as I made my way through the sandwich and enjoyed every bite. The pork pairs very well with the sauce and the subtle flavors from smoked and hand pulled pork. My mac and cheese was as expected in a steakhouse.

We shared a dessert, the chocolate volcano cake. This lava cake comes with ice cream, syrup, and whipped cream to give a dessert with hot, cold, and all the fun of a warm, melty cake and a cold chaser.

We enjoyed our meals and the view of the Ohio river. We watched a riverboat make it’s journey and afterwards felt so full that we made a point to take a walk along the river walk and park that is paired with the location of the Boathouse. The price is a moderate price and folks will need to be mindful of their budget when dining in.

I also want to give shoutout to the location for it’s accessible entry way and even going as far as the sign I found that they offer braille menus which is very rare for me to find. I may not have need, but I applaud any restaurant that strives to make sure they can offer the full experience to anyone that comes through their doors.

A famous location that has seen many famous people through its doors, as well as political figures and many visitors from all over the states. The Rib King and his family created a staple in Cincinnati that is worth that first visit and first taste of ribs.