Цинциннати Шилі: 75 жылдық тарих және дәстүрлер

Restaurant chain specializing in Cincinnati chili

Skyline Chili is a chain of Cincinnati style chili restaurants based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1949 by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides, Skyline Chili is named for the view of Cincinnati's skyline that Lambrinides could see from the first restaurant (which has since been demolished), opened in the section of town now known as Price Hill. and also sponsors the Crosstown Shootout, an annual men's college basketball rivalry game between the city's two NCAA Division I teams, Cincinnati and Xavier.

In 1912, Nicholas Lambrinides emigrated to Cincinnati from Kastoria, Greece, and brought his favorite family recipes with him. To save up the money to bring his wife to America as well, he first worked as a cook for a railroad crew and in a hotel kitchen, then opened a short order diner. After nearly a decade, his wife was able to join him in Cincinnati and they raised five sons. By World War II, Lambrinides was working as a chef for the original Empress Chili restaurant, where he continued to tinker with a recipe which he had been developing for years. In 1949, he and three of his sons opened their own place. That diner was located at 3822 Glenway Avenue, at the intersection of what is now Quebec and Glenway Avenue. While local lore says the name is from the view of the Cincinnati skyline seen in the original restaurant, the family claims it was inspired by a skylight and the view from a second floor storage unit over the restaurant.

Skyline Chili is unique in that it is not chili con carne, the meat dish that originated in (and is the state dish of) Texas. Instead, Cincinnati chili is a sauce usually used over spaghetti or hot dogs, containing a unique spice blend that gives it a very distinct, sweet and savory taste. Officially, the recipe for Skyline Chili is a well kept family secret among Lambrinides' surviving children, and the recipe is kept in a bank vault. Skyline's menu includes their signature dishes: cheese coneys (a hot dog topped with Skyline Chili, mustard, onions, and cheese), and 3 ways (spaghetti topped with Skyline Chili and cheese); 4 ways (choice of beans or onions added), and 5 ways (beans and onions both added). Additional menu items are also purveyed. Skyline's chili, canned chili sauce and frozen microwave meals are also provided in supermarkets, notably at fellow Cincinnati based Kroger. In 2023 the location at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport began offering breakfast items. On March 18, 2024, Skyline announced it would be switching from Pepsi to Coca Cola products as part of its 75th anniversary; Skyline had served Coca Cola when the chain first opened in 1949. The announcement was met with mixed reaction on social media, with many fans lamenting the loss of Mountain Dew being available with Skyline, though the chain will have Mello Yello available as an option. The decision did not affect the company's offering of Dr Pepper or Skyline's signature tea offerings. Rival Gold Star Chili, which unlike Skyline had a more longer term relationship serving Pepsi, announced on the same day that they were also switching to Coke products after 58 years.

As of August 2021, Skyline Chili operates 160 restaurants in Ohio (primarily serving Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus), Indiana, Kentucky (primarily Lexington, Louisville and the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati), and Florida. The restaurants may be considered fast casual. Diners may sit at a booth or table and be served by a waiter, or at many locations, sit at a counter near employees preparing the food. At all restaurants, dishes are assembled at a centrally located service island so diners may watch their food as it is made. Food prepping takes only a few minutes so one often gets their food quickly. Carry out and drive through service are also available at most locations. Previously, Skyline had a location in Pittsburgh briefly in the 1980s. While unsuccessful, Skyline did consider a more aggressive return to the market in the late 1990s. However, Skyline never returned to Western Pennsylvania and has since backed off any expansion plans of any kind for the time being. In 2022, Skyline announced a return to Pittsburgh, with its first location in Monroeville, Pennsylvania opening in 2024. The chain continues to operate one location in Lyndhurst, Ohio, but is largely absent north of Mansfield.