The Gruff
Rating
Family of 4
Roughly $45 to $70 for two adults and two kids on pizza and sandwiches before tip, plus parking.
Duration
1-1.5 hours for the meal, 3 hours if you add the bridge walk and the riverfront park
Best Ages
All ages, and especially good for 3-12 because you can pair the meal with the bridge walk and the riverfront playground
About
The Gruff sits at 129 East 2nd Street in Covington, essentially at the Kentucky foot of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, and that location is most of the reason to bring kids here. It is a pizza and deli operation rather than a formal restaurant, which means nobody looks sideways at a four year old who wants to stand on the bench. The menu leans on pizza, deli sandwiches, and salads, so the ordering conversation with kids is short and there is almost always something everyone will eat.
The name is a nod to the Three Billy Goats Gruff, the fairy tale about the troll living under the bridge, which lands well given there is a famous bridge fifty yards from the front door. Tell a five year old that story before you walk over and the crossing turns into part of the outing.
Build the whole visit around that bridge. The Roebling Suspension Bridge is a pedestrian-friendly crossing into downtown Cincinnati, and the steel deck hums under car tires in a way kids find funny. On the Cincinnati side you land at Smale Riverfront Park, where the PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground, the swings that hang out over the river, and Carol Ann's Carousel are all within a couple of blocks.
Eat at The Gruff first, then walk it off. That combination is one of the better inexpensive afternoons in the metro area.
In warm months the outdoor seating faces the Cincinnati skyline, which is the best seat in the house if you can get it. Timing matters less here than at busier downtown restaurants, but weekend evenings still fill up, and this stretch of Covington gets crowded when there is a Reds or FC Cincinnati home game or an event at the nearby convention center. A weekday late lunch or an early weekend dinner is the low-stress window.
One practical note. The website on file goes straight to a PDF menu rather than a normal site, so call (859) 581-0040 for current hours, whether the patio is open, and whether they stock high chairs. A plain cheese pizza split between two kids is the usual solution either way.
Parking is street and small lots in the Covington riverfront blocks, and it is generally easier and cheaper than parking downtown across the river, which is one more argument for eating on this side and walking over.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Limited
Nursing / Changing
Unknown
Kid Meals
Limited
Setting
Indoor & Outdoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekday late lunch, or an early weekend dinner before the Covington riverfront blocks fill up
Wait Times
Usually short at off-peak hours, longer on weekend evenings and much worse during Reds or FC Cincinnati home games and downtown convention weekends
Nearby Food
You are in Covington's riverfront blocks, so options are close but spread out. Mainstrasse Village is a short drive or a solid walk west and has the densest cluster of casual restaurants, coffee, and ice cream on the Kentucky side. Across the Roebling Bridge, The Banks is where the family-friendly chain and sit-down options concentrate, including Yard House, and it is the natural fallback if The Gruff has a wait. If you are heading toward the riverfront park with kids, there are seasonal concession options along the Cincinnati riverfront, though hours vary by season, so do not count on them as the plan.
Why Kids Love It
The name comes from the Three Billy Goats Gruff, the fairy tale about the troll under the bridge, and there is an actual famous bridge right outside the door. Tell a five year old that story before you walk over the Roebling Suspension Bridge and the crossing becomes an event instead of a walk. Add pizza they can eat with their hands and a skyline view from the outdoor seating in warm months, and it is a low-effort win.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Make the Roebling Suspension Bridge part of the plan. It is a walkable crossing into downtown Cincinnati, and the steel deck hums under car tires in a way kids think is hilarious.
- On the Cincinnati side of the bridge you land at Smale Riverfront Park, where the PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground and Carol Ann's Carousel are within a couple of blocks. Eat first, walk it off second.
- The website on file goes straight to a PDF menu rather than a normal site, so call (859) 581-0040 for current hours, whether the outdoor seating is open, and whether they have high chairs.
- Check the Reds and FC Cincinnati schedules before you drive down. Game days change both the crowd and how easy it is to park anywhere near the river.
- Dress for wind. The bridge deck is exposed and it is noticeably colder and breezier out there than it is on 2nd Street.
What to Bring
- A stroller or carrier for the bridge walk, since it is longer than it looks with small legs
- Layers or a windbreaker, because the bridge is always breezier than the street
- Your own changing pad, since changing table availability here is not confirmed
- Water bottles for the walk to the riverfront park
- A card plus a little cash or a parking app for Covington street parking and lots
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
Roughly $45 to $70 for two adults and two kids on pizza and sandwiches before tip, plus parking.
Tips to Save
- This is a pizza and deli menu, so a large pie split four ways is far cheaper than four entrees and usually leaves leftovers.
- Park on the Covington side and walk across the Roebling Bridge instead of paying downtown Cincinnati garage rates, which is often a real savings on event days.
- Bring water bottles for the bridge walk rather than buying drinks twice.
- If you make the riverfront park the afternoon plan, the entertainment side of the day costs nothing except the carousel.
