Gilpin's Steamed Grub opens second location near UC

Brad Gilpin opened his first restaurant, Gilpin’s Steamed Grub, downtown five years ago. He recently opened a second location in Clifton near the University of Cincinnati, his alma mater. He chose UC because the incoming freshman class is huge, and Gilpin's Steamed Grub is the kind of restaurant he wished was in Clifton when he went to school there.

"I love food, and wanted to bring the steamed sandwich concept to Cincinnati, but make it my own," Gilpin says.
 
The 1,600-square-foot coffee shop seats about 50 people, and has contemporary and rustic décor and a coffee house feel. There is also a separate study area for students. Like the downtown location, the UC Gilpin’s has an old-school Nintendo and a fake fireplace.
 
All of Gilpin’s coffee drinks are made via steam. The restaurant’s breakfast menu has eggs cooked via steam only as well; the lunch and dinner menus are the same as the downtown location’s, but with a few additions, including steamed pulled pork and additional steamed burgers with meat from Avril-Bleh. Gilpin’s sources pastries from Shadeau Breads, donuts from Holtman’s Donuts and cookies from Donna’s Gourmet.

The new location has five steamers—one for eggs, one for burgers, one for steamed cheese sandwiches, one for salads and one for deli sandwiches. So far, the smoked pulled pork and grilled chicken sandwiches have been the most popular, but customers are also ordering the Razzle Dazzle, which is pepperoni, turkey, bacon, provolone cheese, mesculin mix, honey mustard, Frank's Hot Sauce and nacho cheese Doritos on a pretzel bun.
 
Gilpin’s focuses on fresh, local produce, and encourages its customers to recycle and eat local.
 
The UC Gilpin’s is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday, and from 7 a.m. to 3:45 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Gilpin also has plans to open a third location in the next six months near another college campus.
 
By Caitlin Koenig
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