The Scioto Ribber

100% my favorite steak place!!! This is genuinely my go to spot for a well seasoned ribeye or NY steak! They use wood burning grills outside and engulfed in smoky perfection! The staff is always super friendly and accommodating, I've never had to wait long on getting an amazing and affordable meal, and I never have regrets coming here. I typically order the small steak and usually end up taking half home. Key tip, ask for the steak au jus sauce to go if you plan to reheat later. Put the steak and au jus in a pan on your stove top on low heat to warm up, and it's like having it at the restaurant all over! I recommend the ribber fries which are like lighter fluffier Saratoga chips. I ask for mine crispier though. Also, the beer battered onion rings are on point! Top it all off with a local beer brewed literally next door, and you're set! Enjoy one of the best restaurants Portsmouth has to offer folks, you will not regret it!

Nothing bad happened on Friday, December 13th, 2024, when we ate at The Ribber with family--in fact, it was another fantastic visit to what I consider the quintessential Southern Ohio dining experience!As usual, there was a bit of a wait to be seated, but trust me, it's so worth it. We were a group of 9 on a busy Friday night and only waited about 30 minutes. While waiting, you can hang out at the front or head to their bar, which offers a great selection of drinks, including local brews from the Portsmouth Brewing Company.The food? Absolutely incredible. I always go for the spare ribs--they're my go-to--but others had steak. We started out with a classic ball and butter crackers. All bites were amazing. Let me tell you, it was delicious! Portions are generous, and it's worth noting that it's easy to make a few meals out of your visit to The Ribber. We had leftovers for dinner the next evening, and they were just as good reheated in the oven.If you're looking for hearty, delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere, The Ribber never disappoints. Highly recommend!

This was my second time coming (last time we came for dinner and waited a while). Lunchtime is actually much nicer here! We loved sitting in the area with the windowed garage doors and there was plenty of room for our big party with kids.Our servers were really kind and patient. They made sure we had everything we needed and frequently came over to check on us! Our food also came fairly quickly.The steak was a perfect medium rare (as requested) and had a good amount of fat on it (as I like). Onion rings here a bit oily, but how can they not be haha. I love the green beens here and wish they gave more!! (Some of the sides that come in a container are too small in my opinion.) Overall, this is the best place to eat in Portsmouth for sure! (Just be prepared to spend some money!)

When we mentioned to friends that we'd be spending the weekend at Shawnee State Park, they all insisted: "you have to try the Scioto Ribber." Later, I mentioned our Portsmouth trip to a buddy at work, and he asked the same thing--were we planning to go to the Scioto Ribber? Even my wife, at work, had a colleague ask if we were heading to the Ribber. Not entirely sure how it earned this kind of cult following, we decided to check it out for ourselves.First impressions? It's nothing like you'd expect. The place is a large, bustling bar with plenty of seating, though you'll probably wait about 30 minutes to snag one. The crowd is incredibly diverse--a true melting pot, with people of all kinds packed in. The dining area itself isn't remarkable; it's a no-frills space, simply a restaurant. But the staff? They're the heartbeat of the Scioto Ribber. Within a minute of walking in, we were greeted warmly and felt like part of the family. As we waited for a table, the bartender kept us entertained with great humor and attentive service. Watching the crew work the room made us feel right at home, so we opted to stay at the bar and eat there.When the steak arrived, I was blown away. Pictures don't do it justice; it was one of the top five steaks I've ever had. Perfectly cooked, well-seasoned without being overdone, it was simply outstanding. The sides were decent, but make no mistake--the star of every plate is the steak. All in all, a fantastic experience.

We drove two hours from Cincinnati to get to this restaurant. It was well worth the drive. My advice is to get there early as it fills up quickly on the weekends. We started off with the cheeseball. The cheese ball was really good, and something you would find at a party. Nothing stand out about it. Served with packaged crackers.We also had rolls. The rolls were very soft and fluffy., but I am guessing these were premade and packaged. Now the steaks, the steaks were definitely the star of the show. A very nice portion of steak 16 ounce or 32 ounce. Every steak at our table was cooked perfectly to each person's liking. The seasoning was very good. Probably one of the best steaks I've had.They had a lot of seating. It was arranged pretty well according to the amount of space that they have.My only advice is not to go here expecting a five star restaurant. But this is what we liked about it we didn't have to dress up and we didn't feel out of place. With all of the items in plastic cups and the sour cream and butter in packages it felt like a backyard picnic. Definitely will make the trip out again.

We were visiting the area from Alabama. A family member who lives close by recommended we go to the ribber. The atmosphere was very casual. Our waitress was amazing. We were a party of 5, which ordered a variety of drinks, appetizers, and meals. The area where we sat was a newer section. Really liked the roll-up garage doors. I can see that being a great place to enjoy a meal on a nice cool evening or day. The steaks were great. Cooking them outdoors on smokers makes them very tender. If I'm in the area again, I definitely will enjoy another steak.

I have had The Scioto Ribber twice now and honestly it was great both times. When you first walk in, it feels like a small place, but there are plenty of seats available. It has a rustic bbq charm to it, mostly wood, dimly lit, smells amazing. The servers are awesome. They are super hospitable and relatable, but also get along really well with each other, which you don't always see in restaurants. They help each other out and always make sure to jump at anything you need. A+ for sure. The food though, that's what we should talk about. From the first smells as you walk up and see their massive smoke pit area, to the final bites of their dessert, you won't regret a visit here.We had the large ribeye steak and the large ribs. First warning, but ribs they basically mean a pork chop cut in half. They weren't what I was expecting, a rack of ribs, but literally 4 pieces of pork chop. Super generous portions, well seasoned, and cooked really well. Just not what I expected is all. The bbq sauce wasn't too sweet or too vinegary, so it paired well with the ribs (pork chops).The ribeye.... Ok by large it's basically two massive ribeyes. My first trip here I ate both and it was a hearty meal. You could probably share this as a meal for two people not looking to get completely stuffed. The cook was perfect, the grill and their seasoning (salt and pepper, it's all you need) made the meat flavorful, and the steak basically melts in your mouth. If you aren't sure what to get, this will leave you happy. For two people, 2 beers, a soda, large ribs, large ribeyes, and two pieces of pie, we paid just over $100. So it isn't ridiculously expensive either. Sorry no pics, but they would have been amazing. All together, The Scioto Ribber is a must stop if you're in the area. Amazing food and people just can't be beat.

Pretty cool local joint. Side street is full of wood. Enter in the back. Both meals were delicious.

Since Instagram stalks me, a story popped up about the Ribber and sure enough, it looked delicious and we had to go. The lovely Mrs knows how much I love to get in the car and drive to try some new place that's a local mom and pop store. So foodie road trip(300 miles round trip) on an absolutely perfect day... we get there, find out the entrance is in the back so not too bad as you get to walk by the sea of grills and get to smell and see the steaks being prepared. The aroma is just mesmerizing. Enter and immediately seated. Servers are super nice and attentive. Stopping by almost always with perfect timing with a simple and pleasant, 'do you have any questions about the menu?', and when I asked they'd smile and answer any questions I had. Always refilling out drinks without having to wait or ask. If you knew me, you'd you that this is kind of refreshing. We ordered the homemade cheeseball as an appetizer, it was pretty good but not the highlight of the meal that's for sure because for the entree we ordered the infamous steak to share and we were not disappointed. I've had steaks from places that were 2x-3x the price of the steak at the Ribber and the ribeye here was as good and even better than some of those high dollar places. All this without the feeling that I am underdressed for the store. Sides were green beans as recommended by a fella we talked to in the parking lot. And they were sooo good. If you are vegetarian or vegan, the green beans may not be for you as these appear to be soaked in the au jus from steaks. Baked potato was our second side and it had been cooked on one of the grills(?) as it had charring on the skin. Everything was delicious. The folks working here are super nice and the store was incredibly clean. You really can't ask for a better dining experience. Will we go back? Ummm, a resounding yes! but I'm bringing my entire family with me. Support local!

This is an interesting place but I loved it. When we walked up they have a bunch of open flame grills going under an overhang. I thought we were in trouble.We had a bit of a wait but they were jam packed on a Saturday night so not a big deal. Our waitress did a good job. She was polite and attentive. We went for steaks and they've got 4 choices. A "small" ribeye (16 oz) and a large one (32 oz) and same for the strips. We both went with the small ribeye and man was it great! It was seasoned just right, had a nice smoky flavor and were cooked absolutely perfect. I would definitely come back if I ever happen to be in this neck of the woods again.