Out to eat: Next Chapter

Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella layered with marinated roma tomatoes and Pablo's Muffaletta, left, are joined by the pot roast tacos on the patio at Next Chapter in Mount Adams. (Credit: Carrie Cochran | Metromix)

The Reds were home and my buddy Thad and I were looking for a way to support them. While also saving a little cash. We’d each already been to a few games this season, so we decided to skip the ballpark and head up to Mount Adams, an ideal spot to enjoy a drink. Or two.

Next Chapter has been open for a few months already, but it’s still one of the newer restaurants and bars in the neighborhood.

The vibe: Next Chapter sits at Saint Gregory and Pavilion Streets, arguably the busiest intersection in Mount Adams. It opened in the former Mount Adams Fish House space, and their patio really is enormous. I think it’s bigger than the building itself. There are plenty of tables, an outdoor bar, outdoor sofas and a fire pit ready to go – if a cool night ever returns to Cincinnati.

They even have a second level to their outdoor space, attached to the restaurant and overlooking the whole patio, but shielded with a roof. They host musical acts here on weekends typically, and definitely have the space to accommodate a large crowd.

Thad and I had to make a tough decision: watch the game outside on one of the three outdoor televisions, or bask in the AC inside. We compromised and decided we’d try both—eat inside for part of the game and drink outside in the later innings. The inside space isn’t huge, but it’s very comfortable and reminiscent of a classic neighborhood bar, with books framed on the walls.

The food: The menu is full of higher end bar fare. Thad ordered the Beef Brisket sandwich ($8.99) thinly sliced smoked beef piled into a toasted Cuban roll. He said it wasn’t the most memorable sandwich he’d ever had, but he thought it was decent for a bar & grill.

I decided on their Patty Melt ($8.50), a large hand-formed beef burger, topped with sautéed onions and American cheese served on two perfectly pan-fried pieces of Texas toast. Maybe everything tastes better served on buttered Texas toast, but my patty melt was really tasty, and a nice alternative to a regular burger.

After a recent menu change, I stopped back in and split a couple of their new items. The Spinach and Artichoke dip ($8.99) was baked to perfection with a golden brown, bubbly cheese top and served with pita and tortilla chips. The Pot Roast Tacos ($6.99) – tender and topped with a green chile sauce – were unusual and tasty, and served with Next Chapter homemade potato chips.

Next Chapter serves brunch on both Saturdays and Sundays and offers bottomless mimosas for $14, which definitely made me want to stop back on a weekend and put the definition of “bottomless” to the test.

The drinks: They have a full bar at Next Chapter, but we were in a beer drinking mood, so Thad and I each started with a Sam Adams Summer Ale ($4.50). We just missed Happy Hour (it ends at 8 p.m. on weekdays), but the price for the pints seemed reasonable.

They had Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy and Berry Weiss on draft, so our second pint was a tasty mix of the two, known as pink lemonade ($4). It was refreshing for a hot night, but may be a bit sweet for beer purists.

The verdict: Next Chapter is a great addition to Mount Adams. It may not have the river and city views of some of its neighbors, but the outdoor space is immense and inviting and the food and drinks are affordable and offer something a little different than typical bar food.