The Banks has lived up to its potential with booming pedestrian traffic, restaurants, and bars, all nestled between Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium. Among the cluster of establishments in the area is The Filson, an upscale sports bar with a relaxed and approachable atmosphere planning to open its doors on August 18.
“We service local beer flights, specialty cocktails, and our famous ‘beertails’ to food ranging from pizzas, salads, burgers, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and bourbon barbecue salmon,” explains Jasmine Souverein, Marketing Coordinator at The Filson. “The Filson has everything you want and need, whether it’s for a date night, family night, a boozy brunch, or a quick bite before the big game.”
The inspiration for The Filson comes from one of the Queen City’s founding fathers – John Filson. According to Souverein, the spot where the restaurant is located is the very spot where Filson began his surveying of what would become Cincinnati. “Filson first named this area ‘Losantiville,’ meaning the town opposite the mouth of the Licking River,” she says. “Upon his disappearance in 1788, Losantiville was renamed ‘Cincinnati’ by Israel Ludlow in honor of the Society of the Cincinnati.”
Now, the team behind the business is paying homage to Filson and the path he set forth in establishing the city we all know and love.
The menu at The Filson includes a variety of options, including the Smoked Trout Dip, Asian Stick Ribs, and Smothered and Covered Fries. Souverein recommends that after starting with one of these, washing them down with a Stadium Shandy “BeerTail” before turning to BRG Famous Chicken and Kale Salad and a specialty cocktail like Romero’s Bad Habit. “Guests also love other favorites like our jambalaya, filet mignon steak sandwich, Bourbon Street Pizza, or the Hangover Burger,” she says. The menu also boasts a variety of dessert options including white chocolate bread pudding, apple cobbler, or key-lime pie.
Although the doors to The Filson don’t officially open for a little more than a month, Souverein says that the establishment is already unique because of the care it already has for its guests. “When you walk into The Filson, you will feel as if you’re in an upscale sports bar – with its tall ceilings, elaborate leather booths build by Cincinnati-based Orange Chair, penny tile flooring, and gorgeous globe lights,” she says. “The upper walls are adorned with an incredible display of picture frames taking you through Cincinnati’s forgotten, unique, and fun history. Design is always top of mind for us, but we know that none of that matters if we don’t have the right people who are fun, energetic, and knowledgeable about our vast menu and ready to guide you through the entire experience.”
The Filson is located at The Banks, on the corner of Freedom Way and Rosa Parks Street, adjacent to the Freedom Center. To learn more about The Filson, visit https://thefilson.com or follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
