If you’re travelling through central Ohio, stop at these local eateries for the greatest hamburgers

By RYAN CARTER
Finding a great hamburger in southwest Ohio is not a difficult task.

  Within a 220-mile trip, my travels took me to nine sensational burger joints, all with their unique features. As with any dining experience, much of the uniqueness is not just the taste of each delicious burger, but of the atmosphere of each diner I visited.
   Through the communities of Wilmington, Washington C.H., Ripley, Georgetown, Hillsboro and Greenfield, there wasn’t a bad burger among the bunch. Not even close.
   This is why ranking the burgers is almost impossible because it’s too close to call. With that being said, I was able to rank my three favorite hamburger restaurants with the following criteria: the taste of the burger (of course), affordability and the overall ambience, which adds to the enjoyment of each burger.
   In my travels, the top two burger establishments I visited were not far apart. In fact, they are within the same city…Wilmington, Ohio. Maybe they should rename it Burger Town, Ohio.
Rod’s Capricorn Inn
   My number one hamburger came from Rod’s Capricorn Inn, located on State Route 730, just outside of Wilmington near Cowan Lake. The diner itself is surrounded by wilderness and a few other small businesses. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but as soon as you walk in you feel right at home.
   It’s impossible to talk about Rod’s Inn without mentioning Rod himself, Rod Moler that is…the man who’s owned Rod’s for 36 years. Calling Rod Moler a character would be the understatement of the century.
   Rod makes you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door. He greets everyone warmly and seems to know most of his customers by name. He’s loud, funny and friendly, but not in an overbearing way. He tells tales, sings songs and makes a great burger.
   The other servers in the restaurant are tremendous as well.
   But of course, this is all great but meaningless without a good burger. I consumed a Rod Burger, which is a half-pound cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato. It was simply the tastiest burger I had on my trip. The burger, which has delicious crispy edges, was too big for the bun, but that in no way takes away from it.
   The meals are also very affordable and the quick and friendly service combined with great food makes this a can’t miss diner for burger lovers.
   With the cooking area in close quarters with the dining area, you can watch Rod cook your burger before you eat it.
   “Everything these days seems to be fancier and prettier, but not this place,” Rod said. “This place has stayed the same. And I think a lot of people appreciate that.”
   They certainly do.
The General Denver Hotel
   Running a close second on my travels was the General Denver Hotel, which is now mostly known for the great food. But it’s also known for its unique history.
   The hotel, built in 1928, was named in honor of Gen. James William Denver, one of Wilmington’s most adventurous citizens. He was not only a hero of the Mexican and Civil Wars, he was governor of the “Bleeding Kansas Territory,” a U.S. legislator from Colorado and California and the man for whom Denver, Colo. was named.
   The dream to build a first class hotel between Columbus and Cincinnati was created by a group of prominent citizens, led by Matthew Rombach Denver. James Scudder Atkins of Cincinnati was contracted to design the hotel and A.P. Eveland handled the construction. The result was a beautiful four-story Tudor Revival structure unlike any other.
  Once upon a time, the hotel included a barbershop, soda fountain and tavern. It soon became the center of Wilmington’s business and social life. It still includes an elegant dining room.
   The General Denver has a number of popular burgers, including the General Denver Pub Burger, which this writer enjoyed thoroughly. It’s a half-pound burger smothered in barbecue sauce with cheddar cheese and smoky bacon on an onion bun. This is a much thicker and more filling burger than any others I ate on the trip.
   It’s delicious and even though the cost is more than Rod’s, it’s well worth the price.
   Other burgers at the General Denver are: the Portobello Burger, The Stack, the Hartman Burger, the Bubba Burger and the Sally Melt.
   And for those who really feel adventurous, there is Mallory’s Out of Control Burger, which includes mushrooms, peppers, onions, jalapenos, bacon, barbecue sauce, banana peppers and mozzarella cheese.
   “That is one spicy burger,” said James Cotes of Wilmington. “It’s a good burger though.”
   Besides the food, the amenities, including Ohio’s oldest operating elevator, of the historic hotel are another good reason to check out the Denver, which is located at 81 W. Main St. in Wilmington. It’s been owned by Mark and Molly Dullea since 2004.
   Although there are only a few rooms that can still be rented, just visiting the hotel takes you back to days of old.
 Prime Meats and Deli
Rounding out the top three is Prime Meats & Deli, located at 1230 Columbus Ave. in Washington C.H. Although a bit off the beaten path, this restaurant and deli has become one of the great secrets in Fayette County simply through word of mouth.
  This writer didn’t even know they served burgers at Prime Meats until several acquaintances raved about them.
   “It’s the best burger in town,” said David Raney of Fayette County. “They don’t cost much and they’re really starting to catch on.”
   The juicy cheeseburger this writer had didn’t disappoint. Arriving at lunch time, there was a huge crowd looking over the menu, as well as the deli meats, which is known as the best deli in town. The deli meats and the food are very affordable.
   The restaurant itself has a spacious dining area and is a natural meeting place for Fayette Countians to catch up with the latest gossip.
   “This is the best place to eat in town in my opinion,” said Cheryl Tate of Washington C.H. “They have everything you could want. I didn’t know about their burgers either until someone told me. I’m so glad I discovered this place.”
   The next six burger joints didn’t make this writer’s top three, but still offer mouth-watering burgers, all with their own unique flavors.
The Kenwood
   Staying in Washington C.H., the Kenwood Restaurant and Lounge is also known for having great hamburgers. The Kenwood Burger is their specialty here….a half-pound, juicy burger with all of the toppings you could ever want.
   “This is a great place with good hamburgers,” said Tom Roby of New Holland. “Everything I’ve had here is excellent and they have good service.”
   The Kenwood is not exclusively a hamburger place. “No, not at all,” said George Wendling, who’s been the owner of Kenwood for 13 years. “We have steak, seafood, prime rib and a little bit of everything. It’s a nice little family place that the community enjoys. It’s been here for a long time. Everybody loves our Kenwood burger, but we have a lot more than just that.”
   The Kenwood is located at 1619 U.S. Route 22 Northeast in Washington C.H.
 The Fireside Restaurant
   The Fireside Restaurant is located in Georgetown off of Highway 221. It is renowned through the area for its great food, fast, friendly service and reasonable prices.
   If you’re going to the Fireside, you better come with a big appetite to handle the Sizzler burger or even the chef salad.
   The Fireside Restaurant was recently put on the map thanks to a visit by somebody named Barack Obama. Now President Obama, stopped at Fireside last October during a campaign stop.
   Since that time, the Fireside Restaurant and its owner, Bill Seip, has been featured in many national media outlets, including USA Today.
   Seip says his business, off 40 percent this summer, has taken a sudden upswing since the Obama showed up and started telling audiences all across the country that he picked the Fireside because it was supposed to have “the best pies in town.”
   “I’m getting people from Cincinnati and Pennsylvania,” said Seip.
   The pies that drew Obama are made by Seip’s mother, Barb, 70. According to her son, she bakes about 65 every week for Fireside’s clientele. “She’s a sweetheart,” Seip said.
   Another menu item caught Obama’s eye: the “Big O” burger. He took one to go when he left the diner. The next day, Seip changed the name on the menu to the “Obama burger.” The double-decker burger, served up with lettuce, pickles and tartar sauce, has been selling briskly ever since, he said.
 Rockin’ Robin’s Sodas Shoppe
    Not far down the road is the Rockin’ Robin’s Soda Shoppe, located at 8 N. Front St. in Ripley. It’s a nostalgic restaurant with a panoramic view of the beautiful Ohio River.
   “It’s like going back in time,” said Betty Farnsworth, who came across the river from Kentucky to visit the diner, which has been in business since 1995. “The view is fantastic and the burgers and ice cream are great.”
   Rockin’ Robin’s specialties are fresh burgers and sandwiches, a full dinner menu, hand-dipped shakes, sundaes and soda fountain drinks.
   The walls are filled with 1950s and 60s photos, including photos of Elvis, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Rosemary Clooney.
Kim’s Classic Diner
   Kim’s Classic Diner in Sabina is a very interesting spot in that the setting is an authentic 40’s diner with original booths, floor tile, stools, menu boards and countertops. It was housed in New York before it came to Sabina.
   Decorations include many car replicas from the 50’s. The diner has been described as “a true piece of Americana.”
   The burgers were extremely tasty, especially served with a side of crisp onion rings. This writer had a bacon cheeseburger, but other well-known burgers include the Big Daddy Burger, the Pizza Burger and the Mushroom Burger.
   The Big Daddy Burger, which is the most popular, includes cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, relish, mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise. Deep fried pickles and deep fried mushrooms are other popular menu items.
   Dan Watson has been the owner of Kim’s Diner since 2003. Watson is currently offering a “mega-challenge” to customers that offers them the chance to polish off a two-pound deluxe burger, two pounds of fries, a half-pound of cole slaw and a drink within 45 minutes. If they accomplish this great feat, the platter comes free of charge. Otherwise, it costs $28.
   Those who do this also get their photo placed on the Wall of Fame in the authentic Silk City Diner on Washington Street in Sabina, right across from the Sabina Elementary School.
   “You walk in this place and it’s like you’re going back to the ’50s,” said Tracy Filkerson of Sabina. “But that alone wouldn’t be enough for business. It’s the great food that keeps people coming back, I think.”
Magee’s Restaurant
   Magee’s Restaurant in Hillsboro is another great stop for a burger if you’re looking for an old-time diner with a good fast food menu as well as daily specials. The burgers are very good with a variety of toppings from which to choose.
   This writer had the Magee’s Platter, which includes a deluxe cheeseburger.
   The restaurant has a daily clientele who keep coming back for the good food, according to Vickie Reffitt, one of the servers at Magee’s. Bill Musser owns Magee’s, which has been in business since 1947.
   During my trip, one of the Sunday specials was homemade chicken and noodles, which my father thoroughly enjoyed. They also offer a variety of pies.
   “My favorite are their burgers,” said Jana Pietre of Hillsboro, who was enjoying a deluxe cheeseburger at the time. “They have a lot of good things on the menu but the cheeseburgers keep me coming back. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in town.”
Who’s Place
   Another favorite, not just in Highland County, but around the area is Who’s Place in Greenfield, half-owned and operated by Linda Williams.
   “We serve everything, but people really like our burgers,” said Williams, who opened Who’s six years ago. “We get people from Hillsboro and Washington C.H. and sometimes even farther, who tell me, ‘This is the only place we eat hamburgers at.’”
   The most popular burger at Who’s Place is the house cheeseburger, which is a quarter-pound burger with a special vidalia onion sauce. “People like that sauce,” said Williams.
   Who’s serves steak, pizza, grilled salmon, shrimp, or just about anything a customer asks for.
   “My son, Brad Calhoun, is the cook and he does a great job at it,” said Williams. “He constantly has people come up to him and ask him what the special is tonight. And he’ll just say, ‘Well, what do you feel like eating?’”
   Who’s Place Restaurant is located at 323 Jefferson St. in Greenfield.
   So there they are. After nine hamburgers and many additional inches to this writer’s waistline, it’s safe to say that southwest Ohio ranks right up there with any area in the country when it comes to delicious burgers.