You'd be hard pressed to find a homegrown Cincinnatian who naysays Tucker's. They've been in the city for many, many years, and, from what I've been told, have never changed. It's true that you'll find everyone from the near homeless to suits eating here.
The Big Tuck is probably my favorite burger. There's not one thing about it that makes it stand out- it's just an all-around great tasting burger.
Pro-tip: for whatever reason, sugar tastes really good on their fries. Not a ton of it, but a decent sprinkling of sugar and salt on fresh fries taste like you're eating a little sliver of funnel cake or kettle corn. It's surprisingly delicious.
If you have the taste palette of an idiot, you won't like Skyline.
Everyone else loves it.
If you expect delicious and plentiful chinese food, you're looking at the wrong place. If you're expecting cheap and okay-tasting chinese food, you're looking at the right place. Though I'd rather spend my $10 on a sandwich and fries and drink at the Penn Station across the street than here. No amount of chickens on a stick or teriyaki chicken will change that.
I was 16 years old and staying in the Roosevelt, and didn't even know I was walking here until I looked down and saw a star. I must've been at the "older stars" section as Anna said, cause I didn't notice bunch of people. I don't watch many movies, but if you do, I guess you'd like this place?
Excellent beers, a few tvs that usually have the most popular sporting event on (World Cup at the time I was there), and cornhole. Bathrooms are also nice and clean in case, y'know, anyone was wondering. Parking is available on the street and in a little gravel lot across the street, but convenient parking is very limited. A local vendor sets up a hot dog stand inside and sells some delicious weiners. Recommend the Curry Dog myself.
For a short period of time in your life, you'll find Fourth Street Live fun. Just turned 21, don't mind paying covers, loud frat rap and obnoxious DJs are just part of the experience, etc. Then you turn 23 or 24 and you realize that hey, this isn't what a night out with a few friends has to be. If you're stuck in downtown, you probably won't be able to go anywhere else short of a cab ride to Bardstown Road. If you have the option though, I recommend skipping Fourth Street and going straight to Bardstown Road.
An easy-on-the-eyes sight amongst the otherwise all-steel bridges dotting the river. Don't forget that this was designed and used to model the Brooklyn Bridge after.
People watching and booze. Bring the cash and a DD, cause someone's bound to get "Watch me run to the end of the boat dock and back in 10 seconds!" drunk and will need a ride home.
I think one of the basketball courts are only 9 feet tall, so check both out if possible.
Great stop to make during your weekend ventures in OTR and downtown Cincinnati. Within walking distance of the bars on Main Street, so after they close, take a walk to the casino to keep the night going.