Mission: Zip's Cafe

Established in 1926, Zip's Cafe uses meat from Bleh-Avril & Sons, Inc to create its delicious burgers.

What Karen Said: Yey, Zip's.  It had been a while and honestly I didn't remember the burger being as good as it was on this day. I guess after serving burgers for 80+ years you must being doing it right.   Zip's is simply a cool joint with good food and fun times.  Look at all the awards it has won:

FOOD NETWORK
"Cheap Eats"

CITY BEAT
For the 10th year in a row, Zip's Cafe is proud to accept CityBeat's 2007 "Best Burger & Fries" award. Also awarded to us this year from CityBeat and it's readers was the "Best Cheap Eats" award. Thank you Cincinnati, thank you CityBeat and thank you to our patrons for the continued support over the last 80 years!!

CityBeat Best Of Website
2003 Best Burgers
2000 Best Cheap Eats
2000 Best Burger & Fries
1999 Best Burger & Fries

CINCINNATI MAGAZINE
Best Restaurants Issue
Best Non-chain Fast Food

Nobody can say for sure what makes Zip's so special.  It has to be a perfect combination of atmosphere, service, regulars, the circling train overhead...  Whatever it is, everyone near enough to visit should do so and enjoy it.  I will certainly be back!  (Oh and hearing Colleens stories, although maybe for the 5-6th time, made the visit all that much better!)

What Colleen Said:  Zip's holds a very special place in my heart.  Granted, I did not grow up in Mt. Lookout, but I spent a lot of time in the area as a kid.  I have an extremely distinct memory of my childhood best friend Kathleen and I getting changed from our Summit Country Day soccer uniforms into costumes (Kathleen dressed as a flapper and I think I was a pack of lifesavors) in the tiny bathroom at Zip's so we wouldn't be late to Katie W's birthday party.  Also, my dad would help me learn to count and understand time better (this is not apparent in any of my standardized test math scores), by counting and timing how long it took the train that circles the restaurant above to complete one full rotation.   I have many memories of Zip's and there is no doubt it is one my treasured Cincinnati spots.  If you haven't been there, go... and maybe ask someone at the table next to you (or at your own table) if they have any Zip's stories.  It is just that kind of place.