Rail Craft Kitchen & Bar - Grandview — Restaurant in Grandview Heights

We made plans to eat at The Rail for my Wife’s birthday as a party of four. This place was highly recommended by several people, so we decided to indulge on my wife’s special day 🙂🎉

When we arrived, one of the hosts told us it’d be a 15-30 minute wait which is completely understandable. When we asked about leaving a phone number, one of the hosts said “oh no don’t worry about that, you can just sit over there and we’ll come get you when a table is ready”. About 30 minutes went by and we continued to sit. Several new groups came in and were seated while we sat and waited. After about 45 minutes of waiting, we were told it would be another 30 minutes. When we finally got sat (one hour and ten minutes of waiting)..we were told that they couldn’t find our phone number to give us a call. Which is weird because they told us we didn’t need to provide them with a phone number…and we were literally sitting right in front of them the entire time.

After we finally got sat, our server was extremely nice and apologetic about how long we had to wait. Unfortunately, that trend continued. We waited another 25 minutes just to get drinks. They weren’t anything fancy, just pours of bourbon and two simple mixed drinks. My sister-in-law thought her drink tasted really weird, but everybody else enjoyed theirs.

The food tasted good! Although my burger was not medium like I requested. It seemed like everyone else enjoyed the food. Our party was really bummed by the amount of time it took to get sat, and get our drinks. We almost considered leaving and going to another restaurant.

In conclusion, I probably wouldn’t plan any special occasions here again. If it was just a random dinner with two of us, I wouldn’t mind...

After a late-night craving led me to The Rail, I was pleasantly surprised to find it open and welcoming even as other places were closing their doors for the night. The Rail, renowned for its dedication to crafting quality local burgers, certainly lived up to its reputation. Under the inviting glow of its neon sign, the atmosphere inside was vibrant and energetic, matching the lively spirit of its diners.

The highlight of the evening was the November Burger Special, aptly named “The Gridiron”. Priced at $10 and served a la carte, this burger was a delightful symphony of flavors, featuring a 6oz burger topped with bacon, smoked cheddar parmesan cheese crisp, spinach, red onion, and a decadent truffle aioli. The optional sides—ranging from fries and sweet potato fries to housemade tater tots or a fresh little salad—added just the right touch to complement the meal.

The Rail’s menu, extensive and thoughtfully curated, includes everything from hearty burgers and artisan salads to flatbreads and gourmet entrees, ensuring that there’s something to satisfy any palate. As I enjoyed my meal, the quality of the ingredients and the care put into each dish were evident, making it clear why this spot is a beloved choice among locals.

For those looking for a late-night dining option that doesn’t compromise on quality or atmosphere, The Rail is a must-visit. Don’t forget to follow my culinary journeys on Google Maps and for more delicious snapshots, follow me on...

Do not go here if you have somewhere you need to be within 2 hours of your arrival - otherwise plan to sit at the bar. I’ve been here twice for dinner now, the food is really good - it’s the reason I’ve subjected others to coming, but the table service is a disaster. The first time our server was aloof, he disappeared for periods and forgot to ring in our food. The food still seemed to take forever - even the appetizer he did ring in took awhile. I went again last night, no wait and we were seated at a table in the back. We sat there for 15 minutes and helplessly watched a number of servers walk by but i didn’t see a single one stop to serve our section. We grabbed our stuff and headed to the bar where we were met with amazing service from the bartender (I wish I could remember her name!). She was super attentive and incredibly nice. Our food seemed to take awhile again, even though they weren’t super busy - had to send the runner back to the kitchen for a few things but the food again was fantastic!

I cannot say enough good things about the BBQ Burger - get the shoe string fries with it, they are soooo crispy and delicious! the fried pickle chips are also perfection - thick chunks of dill with the right around of breading fried up. They are crispy and juicy and amazing. The jalapeño ranch that comes with is also amazing, get it for your fries too!

I’ll still come back for the food, but it’s looking like just take-out...