Fretboard Brewing & Public House - Hamilton, Ohio

David G. S.

Fretboard Public House in Hamilton, Ohio, offers a delightful dining experience, especially if you're looking for a satisfying and well-executed lunch. My recent visit solidified this as a go-to spot. I opted for the chef's salad, and it was a standout. My plate was overflowing with fresh, crisp greens, a generous helping of various meats, ripe tomatoes, red onion, and perfectly boiled eggs. Chef's salads can sometimes be bland, but this one was anything but. While I typically prefer just black pepper on my salads, I decided to try their house vinaigrette, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was light, tangy, and complemented the ingredients beautifully without overpowering them.

Beyond the food, Fretboard boasts a pleasant atmosphere. Located in a charming older building, the interior has been tastefully renovated with a modern touch. The space feels welcoming and comfortable, with a few strategically placed TVs for those who want to catch a game. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, offering excellent drink suggestions. I took their recommendation and tried a red tropical ale, which was absolutely delicious and perfectly refreshing. I savored every drop.

While parking is a short walk away, it's a minor inconvenience compared to the overall positive experience. The pricing at Fretboard represents excellent value. The generous portions and high-quality ingredients justify the cost, making it a worthwhile choice for a delicious and affordable meal. I highly recommend Fretboard Public House for anyone looking for a great lunch spot in Hamilton.

Sarah L.

Went here for an early New Years Eve dinner with our parents and kiddos. The waitress was excellent about our daughters food allergies, and she was very informed on their menu and what we should avoid. We were seated on the second floor, which was cozy and warm. The first floor also seemed inviting with varied height seating, and I'm sure the rooftop is great when it's not raining.😅 We started off with the pretzels and beer cheese, which were very good, and the loaded hashbrown squares were excellent, highly recommended. I had their Pub Burger, which was cooked to order, and the fries were great dipped in some leftover beer cheese. My husband had the fish tacos, which he would not recommend stating they were like frozen fish sticks on tacos, everything else he had he enjoyed, including his fork and knife salad. My kids went with the chicken tenders and cheese pizza and my son said the cheese pizza was good (he ate half) and the chicken tenders smelled and looked awesome but my daughter was apparently not hungry so she didn't try it. My husband and I also enjoyed one of their beers and their house margarita, both were very good. Overall, I'd return to this location again in the future.

Andy K.

Never had a bad experience, the food is always top notch or better even! The staff are wonderful and attentive and really make the customers feel welcome. They are also happy which leads me to believe management is doing a great job as well. Never had a bad experience, definitely recommend!

Tammy H. (.

We had a couple of friends suggest this place, so we thought we'd give it a go. It definitely didn't disappoint! Since the rooftop was closed, we sat at the bar. The bartender was great and very informative. Told us all about the restaurant and the beers. Gave us great suggestions for drinks and the menu. We tried some beer flights so we could get a good taste of several kinds and the "Big Blue Lemondade" YUM 😋 We started with the Fretboard Vlad Beer Cheese with veggies & pretzels, which was very good. He opted for the "Meat Loaf," and I got the "Fish & Chips" and both were hot & delicious and I loved the house made tarter sauce. The bartender actually gave him a side of Mac & cheese as well because someone mistaken ordered it, and why not! LOL. He enjoyed that as well. We'll definitely go back, especially once the rooftop is open to check out the view.

Tina C.

This is the first time I've been here and I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back! Amazing food, amazing service, the Big Blue Lemonade drink is my new favorite drink. The rooftop isn't open right now but we were permitted to go out and take a look and I cannot wait to go have a meal and drink on the rooftop where you can look out over the river and the city. Definitely recommend going, the atmosphere is awesome and I love the music too.

Tami S.

I had been wanting to try this place for a long time, and it did not disappoint. Staff was very attentive and polite. Amazing food & wine. And, everything can be ordered as gluten-free.

Margaret C.

Great place for beer and comfort food. Relaxing environment on main st I'm Hamilton. Enjoyed the 3 little pigs, fried chicken, the cajun chicken sandwich and the meatloaf. Everything came out quickly and hot. Fabulous break from the fast food chains. Highly recommend.

Christopher M.

Stopped in for lunch during my last week of work in the area. Wish I had known this place was here for longer our bartender was great, very friendly, and attentive. We liked the atmosphere and the drinks were good. My friend had a hamburger that looked amazing I had the Cajun chicken that was good just not my favorite thing if I went back I would definitely get a burger or try something else. Their french fries are delicious!