Sinners & Saints Tavern Won’t Leave You Hungry

This East End Texas smokehouse-sports bar mashup has a Southern-inflected menu and an athletic design aesthetic.
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Photograph by Chris Von Holle

One thing’s for sure: you won’t leave the Texas smokehouse/sports bar Sinners & Saints Tavern hungry. For starters, we loved the Heavenly Tators (emphasis on heavenly), jumbo sized housemade tots smothered in creamy queso. Looking for a lighter bite? Try the Texas Caviar, which swaps fish eggs for tangy black-eyed peas and lightly-pickled peppers—a refreshing start to a meat-heavy meal. Speaking of that meat, you can’t go wrong with the Not Yo Mama’s Fried Bologna sandwich or the slow-smoked brisket, served with Texas BBQ sauce, white bread, and pickles, or in a hoagie.

Photograph by Chris Von Holle

Several dishes, like the housemade sausage links, draw on German influences found in both Texas and Cincinnati cuisine, while the sides take flavors back to the country. We loved the creamy coleslaw, crispy onion straws, and chili-spiced cornbread. Rich barbeque flavors and a few drinks off of the sizable beer list hardly left us unsatiated. But if you’re feeling a little sinful, we recommend ending your meal with the Devil’s Chocolate Torte topped with fresh raspberries.

The restaurant’s character shines through its decor, which includes hanging hockey memorabilia, pictures of public figures (you decide who’s a “saint” and a “sinner”), and tables made from real NBA courts. Eating at a table that Kobe Bryant once dribbled on just adds to the ambience. Score one for the home team.

Sinners & Saints Tavern, 2062 Riverside Dr., East End, (513) 281-4355, Dinner Tues–Sun.

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