Gold Star - Cincinnati, Ohio

Introduction

Nestled in the heart of Cincinnati, OH, at 2231 Beechmont Ave, lies Gold Star Chili, a beloved local establishment that has been serving up its signature chili and other American favorites since 1965. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, generous portions, and unique Cincinnati-style chili, Gold Star Chili has become a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike.

Main Services

• Cincinnati-Style Chili: Gold Star Chili's signature dish, this chili is a unique blend of spices, served over spaghetti and topped with shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onions, and a dollop of sour cream.
• 3-Way: A Cincinnati classic, the 3-Way consists of spaghetti, chili, and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Coney Dogs: Gold Star Chili's famous hot dogs, topped with chili, chopped onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Burgers: A variety of juicy burgers, including the classic cheeseburger, as well as specialty options like the Western Burger and the Mushroom Swiss Burger.
• Deckers: A Gold Star Chili original, Deckers are a combination of chili, cheese, and your choice of toppings, served on a bed of crispy fries.
• Chicken: Tender chicken tenders or strips, served with your choice of dipping sauce.
• Salads: Fresh salads like the Chili Salad and the Classic Garden Salad, perfect for a lighter meal.
• Shakes: Thick and creamy milkshakes in a variety of flavors, including the classic chocolate and vanilla, as well as unique options like the Black Raspberry and the Turtle.
• Kids Meals: Gold Star Chili offers a variety of kids' meals, including mini Coney Dogs, chicken tenders, and macaroni and cheese.

Location and Access

Gold Star Chili is located at 2231 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230, in the East End neighborhood of Cincinnati. The restaurant is easily accessible from I-75 and I-71, making it a convenient stop for both locals and travelers. The neighborhood is known for its historic architecture, vibrant arts scene, and diverse dining options.

The restaurant offers ample parking in a large, well-lit lot, with designated handicapped spots and wheelchair-accessible restrooms and seating areas. The building is also wheelchair accessible, with a ramp leading to the main entrance.

Featured Characteristics

• Atmosphere: Gold Star Chili offers a comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere, with a nostalgic diner feel. The walls are adorned with Cincinnati-themed artwork, and the booths and tables are well-spaced, providing plenty of room for large parties.
• Drive-Thru: For those on the go, Gold Star Chili offers a convenient drive-thru window, making it easy to grab a quick meal without leaving your car.
• Catering: Gold Star Chili offers catering services for events of all sizes. Their catering menu includes a variety of their signature dishes, as well as customizable options to fit your specific needs.
• Loyalty Program: Gold Star Chili offers a loyalty program, Gold Star Rewards, which allows customers to earn points towards free meals and other perks. Plus, new members receive an offer for a free 3-Way.

Practical Information

• Phone: 32317602
• Website: locations.goldstarchili.com
• Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM, Friday - Saturday: 10:30 AM - 11:00 PM
• Payment Methods: Cash, credit cards, and mobile payments accepted
• No-Contact Delivery: Gold Star Chili offers no-contact delivery through third-party services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
• Dine-In, Takeout, and Delivery: Gold Star Chili offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery options, making it easy to enjoy their food no matter how you prefer to dine.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

Many customers praise Gold Star Chili for its extremely friendly and helpful staff, who always go out of their way to provide excellent service. The food is consistently fresh and high-quality, with customers raving about the unique flavors of the Cincinnati-style chili and the generous portions. The atmosphere is welcoming and clean, making it a great spot for families, friends, or a quick solo meal. Customers also appreciate the convenience of the drive-thru and the variety of menu options, including vegetarian and vegan options.

👍 Reviews of Gold Star

Brandon H.

3/5

Extremely friendly and helpful staff, the food is very fresh and is quality. However everything on the menu is at least $1 more than it should be, it adds up quick and makes it difficult to justify coming here often. The portions are very small. The hotdogs don't even make the length of the bun and the drinks are much smaller than most other places. I like it but it's just so expensive and it doesn't feel like what you get for it is worth it. Also don't know why my burger bun had chunks missing out of it.

Gretchen

5/5

Loved this location! I used to visit when it was across the street so long ago. This new one has a very nice staff and the restaurant is kept very clean and welcoming. The 3 Way was exactly as great as ever and it comes in three sizes! The Cheese Coneys are tasty too.

Joe B.

3/5

Gold star is a good place to get a chilli cheese sandwich... although sometimes this location has skimped on chilli and tonight was another skimpy night...
I mean it's a chilli cheese sandwich...
Don't skimp on the chilli...."see pic..."
I thought a chilli cheese was cheese chilli then cheese... in this case it was scant amount of chilli and some cheese..
An even better place for chilli cheese fries as they have crinkle cut fries.
Never disappointed with this goldstar

Erica C.

5/5

All the workers there were so kind, friendly, helpful, greeted us, blessed us and had RARE excellent service! The food was all fresh and yummy. First time visiting this location and we will be back!

Blake E.

5/5

Always super friendly and they always rush to get your food ready and to be honest rarely get orders wrong

Dan W.

2/5

One word. Incompetence. The drive thru is exceedingly slow and they get the orders wrong or leave things out. I had to ask for crackers and got 1 pack - then got home to find out there was no cheese for my 3-Way. Not worth the drive back to deal with that again. I will just go to Skyline instead - they actually have competent employees even of many of them are high school kids. Maybe Gold Star should study their model and make some changes. And to make it just that much better, calling the phone number listed on the receipt just gives a busy signal - so you can't even call to get a refund.

Mark W. R.

2/5

Since when did GS close the dining room at 7pm on a Friday night

Jack D.

5/5

I'm not budgeting on my love for Cincinnati style chili (sauce) I love them all. And this location has great service, fast and friendly service inside and in the drive through. Clean inside and out. The only fail.. and not thier fault.. 8 buck cheeseburger.. nope. I can get something for 4 bucks at Wendy's that is far superior. It's like, don't go to a pizza place for a steak.
I did go to a store when they first started testing it. Was pretty good then. Not the same burger now.
Stay into the coney and spaghetti lane. Salad, wraps ECT (heck, the cold cut sandwichs are good)
I really dig the chili fries even though it takes longer but.. fresh fries are always good.
Tldr.. drop the burger. Either the price or up the quality. Or just don't offer it. Probably cheaper that way.