The passing of Bill Lambrinides, the last of three brothers to launch the Skyline Chili chain with their father Nicholas in 1949, undoubtedly will spark many a memory among Cincinnatians who’ve loved their “Skyline Time.”
Perhaps among them will be President Barack Obama, who made a surprise visit to the Vine and Sixth streets parlor in 2012 and ordered a four-way with beans and two coneys with mustard.
“His visit makes Skyline the only presidential parlor in Cincinnati,” wrote Dann Woellert in his 2013 book “The Authentic History of Cincinnati Chili.” “But to countless Cincinnatians, Skyline is better than presidential. It’s their hometown favorite chili.”
Greek-style chili is arguably the best-known regional food, and Skyline, though not the first to serve it here — Empress began in 1922 — has led the way for decades.
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