J.Austins Riverbank Cafe

We were driving through Hamilton on a road trip and decided to stop in here for a late lunch. It was after 1pm when we stopped so I expected that it should take 45 minutes to an hour. Obviously it’s not fast food. There were 4 or 5 other tables of people.
We were seated promptly, but it was a good 15 to 20 minutes before the waitress came to get our drink order. We had ample time to study the menu, so we ordered our food then too.
The menu looked great and I liked that there were several vegetarian options. I got the Fiesta Quinoa Salad and it was delicious. I had asked for the dressing on the side, but it came out with dressing on it. It had a little more than I would have liked, but it was still good. I also got a side of the roasted brussels and the sweet potato casserole. Both were tasty.
My kids split a cheeseburger, fries and green beans. It looked good. My husband got the same thing I did except he got the coleslaw and he said it was very good.
We were there an hour and 15 or so, which was a bit longer than we had hoped. Clearly they must be understaffed because our waitress seemed stressed. The food was excellent, the service needs some work.

My husband and I have been there 4 times and loved every meal we had. Service has always been spot on. Very friendly staff. Highly recommended.

I had a tough time deciding what to order because the menu had so many great options. Will definitely be back to try them all! Gorgeous inside and plenty of parking. Bartender seemed very helpful (even refilled our drinks when our waitress didn’t — only wished he had been our server too). Sitting and watching the puppies for sale across the street was an added plus.

Great food all around. I had J Austin burger with brussel sprouts as a side. Everything tastes great. Brussel spouts are not my typical choice, I’m not a vegetable eater, but I didn’t feel like eating fries, so I choose something different. I ate all of them.
They have a small, but nice selection of local craft brews on tap. Staff was very friendly. There’s a bar area in another room with what looks like a full bar, but I didn’t go in there. Couple of TV on in the dinning area where caught the Reds game.

Steak was out of this world delicious!
Staff was very attentive! Enjoyed our visit!

Food was excellent and atmosphere was very relaxing. Server was prompt

We just happened upon this place and so glad we did! We tried the deviled eggs and the loaded tater tots appetizers. Both were yummy! My husband had the wedge salad (best he’s ever had) and the corn, black bean and pablano cheese soup… so delicious and with a little spicy kick to it. I had the shrimp, sausage and cheddar grits and it was delicious — a little sweet, a little spicy and just the right temperature! To top it off we had the apple pie a la mode. A perfect ending to a perfect meal. It virtually melted in our mouths. Everything tasted clean and fresh. James, our server/​chef, was personable and professional. We had a really nice experience and will definitely be back!

Great food and friendly staff. Would recommend the grilled cheese, fried green tomatoes and the omelettes

Emily did a great job as my sever and the food were pretty good. I am not sure I get the owners’ concept here of a Southern Brewpub? They had a Guinness sign, but served no Guinness. The beer on hand weren’t bad choices, but common for many establishments as there were none that really stood out. I think the pricing of the bottles and drafts were slightly askew (more so for the bottle), but not fully outrageous. They also tended to miss some classic barware to fit the beers. Would I go again? Maybe, but expectations would be tempered.

If I lived here I’d be here all the time. My first ever chicken and waffles was amazing. I love the fact that their Bloody Mary mix is homemade and they infuse their own spirits. Flavors here are intense. Do yourself a favor and sit at the bar and enjoy.

The restaurant itself was very clean and nice. Although we didn’t have to wait to be seated I did notice other patrons standing in confuse meant because no staff was in sight to seat them. Once seated and our drinks ordered it took around 40 minutes to get our food. If it was crowded and busy I could understand, it was 2pm on a rainy Sunday. The food was very well prepared, my wife and I had no complaints. I would definitely go back just to give a local business a second chance. Hopefully this was just an off day for our waitress.

This place has such a neat atmosphere the bar looks like it’s something out of a speakeasy and the staff are attentive and well trained. The food is delicious we I had the loaded tatertots and the Kentucky Hot Brown delicious.

We LOVE this place. It’s like a little neighborhood bistro in Hamilton, of all places. We try to support and come here regularly… So many great options on the menu with a slight Southern flair (shrimp and grits, a ridiculously yummy poutine…) My wife’s fave is actually the quinoa plate… Soooo yummy and I feel healthy too! Great casual atmosphere but OK to dress nicely too before a show at the Fitton Center. Just can’t say enough about the fun atmosphere, great friendly service and delicious food. Totally worth a visit!!!

After reading the reviews I was hoping this place would be awesome. We had two orders of the wings and deviled eggs for appraisers. The wings are really good. We had the Chipotle peach and the bourbon bbq. They could have been spicier but the flavor was spot on.
The main course was two orders of the short ribs, Turkey club melt and I had shrimp and grits. Both people who had short ribs said it was just ok, on the cold side, and bland. The Turkey club was very good my wife said. The shrimp and grits were just ok. Bland and also on the cold side.
For dessert the girls each had a chocolate fudge cake and said it was really good. I had the bread pudding and it was amazing! Like holy God this is awesome.
If we had not had apps and dessert this would have been a 2 star review and I don’t think I would come back. I’ll try this place again but if the main course is bland and cold again this place might just be an app and dessert place.

I have had this place bookmarked for what seems like a year. It’s just not on the beaten path for me but man am I glad I ventured that way.
It’s in a very cool, nicely renovated old building in downtown Hamilton. I was really impressed with how nice it was. They have a nice big bar area and plenty of seating in the dining area.
I am a sucker a Kentucky Hot Brown so I really had no choice on what to order though I wanted to order several meals just to be able to try a few things. My guest got the loaded homemade tater tots with cheese, onion, and smoked brisket. DANG! My KY hot brown couldn’t have been any better if it was made in Kentucky by the Brown Hotel. Check out their menu! I want to try it all. Chicken and Waffles! Short Ribs! Smoked Pork Belly!!! I have to go back soon.
I was also impressed with their wine selection, beer selection, and their cocktail offerings.
Make the trip. You will be glad you did. I was.

Loved the service and Shrimp & Grits! The restaurant is easy to find, clean and welcoming. Our server was top notch and gave us recommendations. Very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The hardest thing is trying to decide from a balanced menu.
Top notch spot!

Don’t order appetizers here! Although the entrees and sides are pretty good, don’t order the skimpy, overpriced appetizers here. Literally $ 6 for two eggs on the «shareable» deviled egg appetizer!
On the other hand, the chicken and biscuit sandwich and the short rib sandwich were both great! The Brussels sprouts are really special and the fries hot and plentiful. The Kentucky Hot Brown was, well, terrible! No ham on it, a thick piece of turkey (not thin slices)) and naked tomato slices on top of a thick, gelatinous, glob of tasteless white sauce of some kind. No broiler, no cheese flavor –and dry as s bone. Worst hot brown we have ever seen even though it did have a couple of good pieces of bacon on it!
Sangria was the special drink for $ 5. Not good. No fruit added. Very strange taste.

We drove over from Indy today to visit Jungle Jim’s. After shopping we’d worked up an appetite. Behold Unilocal and we found this place.
Service — efficient, friendly, prompt.
Menu creativity — wow. Saw some things here I’ve never seen before. Example — «loaded tater tots». In my mind I was ordering some school lunch frozen tots with gravy. Nope… string hash browns rolled in a ball, fried golden brown, topped with gravy and brisket. They were good. The corn and black bean poblano cheese soup is some of the best soup I’ve ever had. It had a little spice to it, which I like. The wife got shrimp and grits which was amazing. Not the bland, blah stuff one might expect. Swimming in gravy, grits and sausage. I got the chicken and biscuit. I wish I would have ventured out a little more. The sandwich was good, but a little bland. As mentioned, I like a little spice, but this didn’t have it. Nothing special about it really.
Our son got the mac and cheese which, the wife and I helped him eat. It was really good and creamy.
I highly recommend this place and will definitely go back when we are in the area again.

There’s nothing here for someone who doesn’t eat meat. Most all places have a salad or a hidden veggie burger.
I’m updating my review. I haven’t been back, but a friend who is a veggie was here recently and informed me that they’ve changed their menu and now offer some sort of quinoa/​black bean/​kale dish. He says it’s ok and has eaten it a few times. I like to think my review helped bring about a more veggie friendly menu but I’m probably being narcissistic. Still, it’s nice to have and in Hamilton! Yay!

Excellent option for lunch or dinner. We have had nearly everything on the menu. Our personal favorites are the meatloaf and chicken and waffles. Delicious food, cool environment. Several different local beers on tap too. Part of the start of the revitalized Hamilton scene. Craft beer on tap. Why travel all the way to OTR or Cincy when you can grab some great eats and drinks in Hamilton?!