By William Coffman, Opinions and Editorials Editor

Cincinnati has a great food scene, and to explore it, I like to go out every weekend and try a new restaurant. This week, I tried Gordo’s Pub & Grill, a comfortable, welcoming, sit-down restaurant right down the street in Norwood.
I am rarely disappointed. Of course, I visit the legends — Montgomery Inn and Graeter’s — but every now and then I find a place I haven’t previously heard of, but a place that sounds delicious nonetheless.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out about Gordo’s, which is near campus, only a few minutes by car. Intrigued, I decided to pay it a visit, and arrived to a two-hour wait. I decided I would return another day, excited, because a two-hour wait usually means something good was waiting past the line. With two friends, I returned a week later for lunch, where we found it less crowded than our prior trip. We were quickly seated in a nice spot in the corner where pieces of decor caught my eye. There was a cool Beatles poster to my left and an iconic Muhammad Ali photograph to my right, not to mention several Xavier-themed items as well, including Xavier’s basketball’s 2024-2025 schedule right as you walk in the door. One thing is for sure — the decoration gets an A+.

I was here for the food, and Gordo’s delivered. I went with the fried fish sandwich for my lunch. Soon after ordering my meal, two perfectly crispy pieces of cod sandwiched between some delicious bread atop a pile of fries arrived. 

My friend, sophomore Philosophy, Politics, and the Public (PPP) major Drew Freeborn ordered the Reuben. He shared a similar sentiment as me that this was a lunch to be proud of. 

“I liked the Reuben, and the menu is good, which I think helps it out, and I think will make it attractive to students,” Freeborn said. 

“I enjoyed Gordo’s,” Freeborn said. “It is nice to have options off campus, and this is a good one.” 

The tastiness of my meal and the fun, relaxing atmosphere of this small pub on Montgomery Road left me with a wish that more Xavier students and Norwood residents would come and try this place. Xavier students looking to explore this city, and the food scene it has to offer should go out to Hyde Park, go out to Oakley, go down Montgomery, go downtown and eat locally. Eat local because that’s the best thing you can do if you’re trying to learn more about a city’s culture. 

We are surrounded by multiple neighborhoods—neighborhoods with both known and hidden gems, waiting to be tasted. I find myself amazed at what Cincinnati has to offer, and just when I think it can’t have any more surprises, it pulls off another one. I look forward to my return to Gordo’s, where a two-hour line is well worth the result.